Formula One glossary

FIA

Fédération International d'Automobile. This is the ruling body of world-wide motorsport based in Paris, France

Flat spot

The part of a tyre affected by a spin or extreme braking. This cana ruin the car\'s hnling and often causes the need for a tyre change.

Fluid mechanics

Fluid mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering uses of fluid properties. Hydraulic topics range through most science and engineering disciplines, and cover concepts such as pipe flow, dam design, fluid control circuitry, pumps, turbines, hydropower, computational fluid dynamics, flow measurement, river channel behavior and erosion.

Formation lap

Final lap in grid order before the drivers take up their grid positions for the start.