What is the cost of a Mercedes Benz formula 1 car?

By Vroomouk
Page last updated: 12/08/2022 | Next review date: 12/08/2024
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In this article, We find out what the cost of a Mercedes Benz formula 1 Car is. And answer the following questions: what is the formula 1 cost cap? What are the most expensive parts of the Mercedes Benz Formula 1 car?

What is the cost of a Mercedes Benz formula 1 car?

The exact amount of the Mercedes Benz formula 1 car is one of the closely guarded secrets in the Formula 1 world of racing. According to the Formula 1 Experts, the Mercedes Benz Formula 1 car can cost approximately between 14 million to 17 million dollars.

The Mercedes Benz formula 1 car is an open-wheel single-seat race car specifically designed to compete in the Formula 1 motorsports category. Formula 1 has always been the pinnacle of Motorsports, all 20 cars on the grid are the most advanced and very expensive in the world of Formula 1 motorsports.

Mercedes Benz has been the most dominant team in Formula 1 since the regulation change in 2014 which marked the return of the Turbocharger along with a sophisticated hybrid power system. Mercedes Benz has won all the constructors’ championships to date since 2014 and that is only possible thanks to the fastest car on the grid.

The Formula 1 car consists of Chassis and a power unit, the reason it is not possible to find out the exact cost of the Mercedes Formula 1 car is that the teams like to keep the overall cost a secret from the FIA which is the governing body of Formula 1 motorsports.

Mercedes Benz only discloses the cost of the basic chassis and the engine block, it does not include labour and development costs. Many aerodynamic components such as front wings, side and rear diffusers, Rear wings with a drag reduction system actuator are added to the base chassis.

The Mercedes Benz Formula 1 car is constantly evolving and upgrade packages are introduced many times throughout the seasons to stay competitive and rectify any issues.

The Carbon fibre monocoque is very lightweight and strong enough to withstand extreme aerodynamic loads as the car travels at a speed of more than 300 kmph. After designing the suspension setup and finalising the design philosophy, various aerodynamic tests are performed in the wind tunnels to better understand the behaviour of the car at high speeds. 

The car’s carbon fibre chassis cannot be changed or modified. Weight ballast can be moved within the car to change the weight distribution but the base chassis stays the same throughout the season but Following components are redesigned and improved over the season:

The front wing of the Mercedes Benz Formula 1 car cost approximately 300,000 $ and it is responsible for generating the downforce on the front side. It is divided into three parts: the central nose, wings and endplates. Angles of the wings detect the downforce generated on the car whose height and end plates are responsible for directing the air to the side pods.

  • Brake ducts

The brake ducts channel the air from the front of the car and cool down the brake disc and brake pads. It is very crucial to keep the brake under the correct temperature window. If the temperature of the brakes is too cold then it won’t generate maximum braking force and overheated brakes can catch fire. The brake discs are also made from magnesium and offer maximum protection against brake fade.

  • Engine power and cooling packages.

As the car is evolved through the season, the cooling packages are also upgraded according to the aerodynamic airflow and the race track. Engine power upgrades include changes to the turbocharger and gearbox, Each team has a limited number of tickets that they can use to upgrade their engine’s ancillary components.

What is the Formula 1 cost cap?

Formula 1 is the most expensive motorsport with over 22 races each season held at different locations across the world. Big formula 1 teams like the Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, Red bull Racing can spend millions of dollars on the development and overall operations of the formula 1 team. 

The midfield and small teams on the other hand cannot match the budget of big teams and cannot be as competitive since the resources and money is limited to develop the car as the season progresses.

To level the playing field and give equal opportunity to all the racing teams, FIA introduced a three-year budget cost Cap plan. The cost cap came into effect in 2021 with the budget-restricted to 145 million dollars each season and it will further be reduced in the consecutive two seasons.

This is extremely challenging for large teams like Mercedes Benz AMG Petronas racing which spend close to 450 million in the 2020 year through the season. The regulation change in 2022 further amplified the challenge as ground effects cars are making a return to make the competition even more fierce. 

A cost cap administration is created to check if teams are complying with the financial regulations. Mercedes Benz Formula 1 team have a huge challenge in 2022 to produce the fastest car on the grid and also keep the overall cost under the cost cap.

What are the most expensive parts of the Mercedes Benz Formula 1 cars?

Formula 1 is the most advanced level of motorsports and the technological innovations found in the formula 1 car will one day filter down to the ongoing production of cars on the road. Mercedes Benz has always pushed the boundaries and explored various loopholes in the regulation to stay ahead of the field. Following are some of the most expensive components in the Mercedes AMG Formula 1 car.

  • The Powertrain Unit

The powertrain in the formula 1 car is the complete package of an internal combustion engine along with the gearbox and energy recovery systems like the MGU-H and MGU-K. The internal combustion engine is a turbocharged V6 petrol engine with a 1.6-litre displacement. 

The MGU-H stands for Motor generator unit-heat. It is probably the most complex part of the formula 1 car since the start of the turbo-hybrid era. The conventional turbocharger has a turbine side that runs from the flow of the exhaust gases and a compressor side on the air inlet. 

  • MGUK

The MHU-K stands for the motor-generator unit- kinetic. It is similar to a conventional hybrid drive. The electric machine is located between the engine and the gearbox and recovers lost energy when the driver is braking.

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Which diesel engines did Mercedes Benz manufacture in the 1980s?

Does Mercedes Benz make safe cars?

Conclusion

The Mercedes Benz Formula 1 car is very expensive but the profits earned from winning the formula 1 constructor championship are far more than the cost of running the cars for the entire season. 

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