Drafting behind another car can add 10+ km/h on a straight. Here's the physics.
You see cars gain 10+ km/h when they pull alongside on a straight, then lose it the moment they pull out. What's actually happening in the air around them?
Every F1 car pushes a wall of high-pressure air in front of it while leaving churning low-pressure air behind. Think of it like a boat — the bow wave pushes water aside, creating a wake behind.
When a car travels at 300 km/h, it's constantly fighting this air resistance (drag). About 90% of the engine's power on a straight goes into pushing air out of the way, not accelerating the car.
The slipstream is that wake of disturbed, lower-pressure air behind the lead car. A following car entering this zone faces dramatically less air resistance — like stepping into a wind shadow.
This reduced drag means the following car's engine can push it faster with the same power. The effect peaks at about 1-2 car lengths behind, where drag can drop by 30-40%. We call exploiting this the tow or drafting.
But there's a trade-off. The disturbed air in the slipstream provides less consistent downforce — the aerodynamic grip that keeps cars planted through corners.
That's why you'll see drivers pull out of the tow before braking zones. They need clean air hitting their wings and floor to generate maximum downforce for cornering. The straight-line speed boost becomes a cornering penalty.
Watch for the tow timing in qualifying — drivers often work together, taking turns to give each other slipstreams down long straights. In races, look for cars that seem to find extra pace when following closely, then struggle to stay close through the next sector of corners.
The magic distance is 1-2 seconds behind — close enough for the speed boost, far enough to retain some downforce. Any closer and they'll overheat in the corners.