Carbon Fibre

Carbon fibre (or carbon fiber) is a composite material consisting of carbon fibres embedded in a resin matrix. It is extremely strong relative to its weight — approximately 5 times stronger than steel at one-fifth the weight. In Formula 1, carbon fibre is used throughout the car — the monocoque, bodywork, wings, floor, and many mechanical components are made from carbon fibre. The material allows engineers to create structures that are both extremely light and extremely strong, which is critical for F1 performance. The first carbon fibre monocoque in F1 was the McLaren MP4/1 of 1981. Carbon fibre has also dramatically improved F1 safety — the survival cell can withstand enormous crash forces.

Carbon fibre was first used in F1 by McLaren in 1981. The material was initially expensive and difficult to work with, but its advantages were so significant that it quickly became universal. Today, an F1 car contains approximately 80% carbon fibre by weight.