赛车变了

What are racing cars?

Racing cars are very fast cars.

Very very fast.

Faster than any car you have ever seen.

There is a race called F1.

F1 is the most famous car race in the world.

Many people watch.

Hundreds of millions of people watch.

This year F1 changed.

Changed a lot.

The cars changed.

The rules changed.

How did they change?

Let's talk about it slowly.

First the cars.

The old cars were very big.

Now the cars are smaller.

Shorter.

Narrower.

Lighter.

Why make them smaller?

Because small cars are more flexible.

Flexible means turning faster.

Reacting faster.

More fun to drive.

Now let's talk about power.

Power is the force that makes cars go.

The old cars mainly used oil.

Oil means gasoline.

Burning oil makes power.

Then the car goes.

Now it's different.

Now half uses oil.

Half uses electricity.

Electricity?

Yes, electricity.

Just like an electric car.

But F1 cars are not just electric.

They burn oil and use electricity.

This is called hybrid power.

Hybrid means two things together.

Why use electricity?

Because electricity is more eco-friendly.

Eco-friendly means good for the Earth.

Burning oil makes the air dirty.

Electricity doesn't.

So F1 wants to use more electricity.

There is another big change.

Before, F1 cars used regular gasoline.

Not anymore.

Now they use a new kind of oil.

This oil is made from garbage.

And things from the air.

Sounds very strange right?

But this oil is more eco-friendly.

It won't make the air dirty.

F1 wants to tell everyone.

Racing can also be eco-friendly.

Let's talk about another fun thing.

The old cars had something called DRS.

What is DRS?

It is a wing.

A wing on the back of the car.

It can open.

When it opens the car goes faster.

Used to pass the car in front.

Now DRS is gone.

Replaced by a new thing.

Called active aerodynamics.

The name is long.

But the meaning is simple.

The car's wings can move.

On straight roads the wings open.

Car goes faster.

On curves the wings close.

Car is more stable.

Before only the back wing could move.

Now front and back both can move.

And everyone can use it.

No need to wait behind another car.

There is also something called Overtake Mode.

Overtake means passing others.

If you are behind another car.

Very close.

You can use more electricity.

Make the car faster.

Then pass them.

This makes races more exciting.

Because there are more overtakes.

This year there are also new teams.

Teams that weren't here before.

One is called Audi.

Audi is a German car company.

Another is called Cadillac.

Cadillac is American.

They also joined F1.

This shows F1 is more and more popular.

Lastly let's talk about safety.

Racing is very dangerous.

The speed is too fast.

If there is a crash it can be very serious.

So this year the cars are safer.

The protection is stronger.

Can handle more force.

If there is a crash.

The driver is safer.

This is the most important thing.

F1 has changed.

Cars are smaller.

More electricity.

Oil is more eco-friendly.

Wings can move.

Overtaking is easier.

New teams have come.

Drivers are safer.

These are this year's F1 changes.

If you like racing.

This year is a good year.

Because everything is new.

Oh, one more interesting thing.

There was a race this weekend.

In Japan.

The track in Japan is called Suzuka.

Suzuka is a very famous track.

Who won?

A very young person.

His name is Antonelli.

He is only twenty-one years old.

Twenty-one and already winning F1.

Very impressive.

He has already won two races.

He is now number one.

The youngest number one.

There has never been someone this young at number one.

F1 is very exciting to watch.

You should go watch it.