After a total of twenty-two races, Formula 1 has finally turned off its engines. While the drivers are recharging their batteries, the teams are already well into the preparation of the cars that will be the protagonists in 2024 (in the case of Ferrari, presentation dates are already being discussed). But what becomes of those that have covered kilometers around the world’s tracks this year? Let’s explore what happens to the components and what becomes of an F1 car once the season is over.
Firstly, it’s important to note that all customer teams must return to the official manufacturers (RBPT, Alpine/Renault, Ferrari, and Mercedes) the parts supplied by them. Reduced to the chassis only and without a Power Unit, these cars are destined for a life on display. Team museums (the McLaren Technology Centre boasts a private collection ranging from 50 to 75 cars), driver collections (like Fernando Alonso’s), or collections like that of the Prince of Monaco in the case of Charles Leclerc’s SF90, as well as showrooms, serve as spaces for showcasing these extraordinary engineering creations.
In any case, a single-seater is composed of over 80,000 pieces, and it may happen that not all are used during the season. Depending on the component and the relevant regulations, a part may be utilized for the car in the following championship. If the regulations prohibit the use of that component, it can be kept aside for demo runs. Demo runs refer to team programs with cars from past generations, making stops at various new destinations around the world.
Private collectors are also not uncommon. Often sold at auctions many years after the end of their active season, if you happen to have a few million to spare, you could invest them to own an F1 car. The idea also fascinates those who actually have those millions, like the drivers: you may recall that Sebastian Vettel purchased Nigel Mansell’s FW14B. If you don’t have those millions but still have a full piggy bank, on the official Formula 1 website, you can even buy individual components, including the most distinctive ones.
The on-track activity in competitions may not be over with the end of the season. Between tests and historic races, F1 cars could have a second life. To prepare young drivers, teams are allowed to let rookies test cars from previous years. Alternatively, we might spot old single-seaters at historic events like Goodwood or the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco.
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The Mercedes Heritage Team
One team that is extremely attentive to the history of its cars is Mercedes. The parts of the cars can be used as inspiration for creating the next model, supplied to partners, or displayed in Brackley and Brixworth.
The keyword here is efficiency: every component is squeezed to the last drop, trying to extract as much as possible. A component undergoes tests to determine whether it can be used on older cars, for development, or if it is no longer useful. All components that enter the Mercedes heritage are listed and set aside in an organized manner to be ready for use.
Mercedes fires up the heritage cars every year, ensuring that the conditions of the cars are top-notch so they can be made available for any potential runs. Opened in 2016, the Mercedes heritage contains all the cars from the Stuttgart-based team since its return to Formula 1 in 2010: from the W01 to the W14. The total number of components reaches over a million.
Source: f1ingenerale
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