F1 v NASCAR: What Is the Difference Between the World’s Most Popular Racing Machineries?

F1 and NASCAR are the most famous motorsports globally and they have a growing fanbase. Both the sports are renowned for their competitive nature, but fans always wonder which one is better.

Both motorsports have a lot of similarities, like different teams competing against each other and drivers trying to prove themselves as the best. But there are also many differences between Formula 1 and NASCAR. Let’s find out about the differences in both sports. It might help us to find out which sport is better.

What’s faster, F1 vs. NASCAR

The most important thing about NASCAR and F1 is that both sports include high-speed cars. However, the question that sticks to everyone’s mind is which one is faster. But things like the design, engine, and material affect the speed of these cars.

The first thing is that both sports use two completely different kinds of cars. NASCAR uses stock cars, while Formula 1 uses open-wheel cars. The Formula One car looks nothing close to the cars on the road as they are specially designed. Meanwhile, the NASCAR has vehicles quite similar to regular street cars.

Further, the F1 cars are mostly made up of carbon fiber. So, the single-cockpit cars are half the weight of the NASCAR. Additionally, the NASCAR uses a 5.9-liter EFI V8 engine that produces 750 horsepower, while F1 uses a four-stroke 1.6-liter turbo V6 engine that produces about 1000 horsepower.

It approximately takes 2.6s seconds for the F1 car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, while the NASCAR car achieves a similar speed in 3.4 seconds. Undoubtedly, F1 is faster than NASCAR cause they are much lighter and powerful.

Which sport is more dangerous, F1 vs. NASCAR

Fans might not know how acceleration or deceleration in an F1 car is way more dangerous than that in NASCAR. The open-cockpit cars accelerate or decelerate incredibly quickly, which puts an enormous force on the driver’s neck, making it feel five or seven times heavier. The F1 drivers train their necks and wear helmets strapped to the car to prevent a severe neck injury.

Another significant aspect that makes F1 more dangerous than NASCAR is the car’s design. The NASCAR uses an enclosed stock car which is further secured with a cage inside for the driver’s safety. Meanwhile, the F1 uses an open-cockpit car which exposes the drivers to many dangers. The drivers can easily injure themselves from flying debris.

Also, the Halo protects the driver’s head from accidents. Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was on top of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in the 2021 Italian GP. The Halo protected Hamilton from getting any serious injury from Verstappen’s car on top.

The circuit might not look like a life-threatening thing in motorsport, but in F1, it is. Compared to NASCAR, every course in F1 is different and features slow to high-speed corners. Further, the street circuits are the toughest ones, as they are narrower and have walls on both sides. So, a wrong move can lead F1 drivers to crash into the walls. F1 is undoubtedly the dangerous one compared to NASCAR.

What takes more skill NASCAR vs. F1?

Both the sport requires two different types of skills. Formula 1 drivers primarily need to focus on being the fastest car on the track while avoiding any contact. Meanwhile, the NASCAR needs their driver to be precise as they run so close, leading to many touches.

Both motorsports have a different format. F1 runs for 2 hours, including any stoppage, while NASCAR can take up to 3 hours to finish. F1 not only depends on the drivers but also on the pit crew. The F1 race can be done with just one pitstop, which only allows the teams to change tires.

Meanwhile, NASCAR can have up to six pitstops which include changing tires and refueling. So, a Formula 1 pitstop can take just 2-3 seconds compared to NASCAR, which takes 12-16 seconds.

F1 pit stops are one of the most vital parts of an F1 race. The Formula 1 pit crew needs to be extremely quick, as an extra second in their pits can change the outcome of the entire race. These minute things also make Formula 1 more logistic than NASCAR. The F1 needs more data on race day than NASCAR to develop a winning strategy.

Also, the tracks develop two different kinds of skill sets in drivers. The various corners in F1 circuits require drivers with high braking skills, while NASCAR wants drivers to brake less. F1 requires drivers to start training to develop these fine skills from a young age.

F1 vs. NASCAR lap time

An important aspect that comes into play when we talk about lap time is the circuit itself. NASCAR mostly has identical circuits and is all based in USA and Canada. Meanwhile, each F1 tracks are different and are present in various countries.

The length of the circuit is another thing to remember. The NASCAR track length is smaller than the Formula 1 circuit. The shortest NASCAR circuit, the Martinsville Speedway, is less than 1 km, while the shortest Formula 1 circuit, Circuit de Monaco, is around 3.1 km.

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And for reference, the average NASCAR lap time at Martinsville Speedway is 20 seconds, while an average lap time for Formula 1’s Monaco Track is 1 minute and 14 seconds. The short circuits and quicker lap times in NASCAR result in the races being 200 laps or more. However, an F1 race is around 50-70 laps long.

What makes more money F1 vs. NASCAR?

A crucial aspect of any sport is how much money is involved in it. The sports revenue depends on the popularity of the sport. Both NASCAR and Formula 1 are popular motorsports. But F1 is more global than NASCAR, thanks to the schedule and viewership.

NASCAR is quite limited to the US as most of the circuits are in the Americas, while F1 takes place at various locations worldwide, including the US. So, Formula 1 has a broader audience than NASCAR. Further, Netflix’s Drive To Survive has massively boosted the Formula One viewership.

Looking at numbers, the largest audience attending a NASCAR event was about 150,000 people for Daytona 500. On the other hand, Formula 1 recently had an audience of 419,114 people for the entire Australian GP weekend. In addition, F1 tickets are generally higher priced compared to NASCAR’s. So the F1 ticket sales get more revenue between the 2 sports.

The schedule also affects the revenue of a sport. Currently, NASCAR hosts 36 races a season, while Formula 1 hosts 22 races. Hence, the number of races a season is an aspect where NASCAR beats Formula 1.

How many overtakes per season F1 vs. NASCAR

When it comes to overtaking, NASCAR has a bigger number than Formula 1. The primary reason is the style of race. NASCAR allows drivers to get rough and bump into other cars to overtake, giving them a wider track. But Formula 1 doesn’t allow drivers to make contact, so there are no frequent overtakes.

However, it doesn’t mean that Formula 1 doesn’t allow overtakes. F1 has come up with DRS (Drag Reduction System), which reduces the aerodynamic drag on an F1 car to gain an advantage on the car ahead. However, an F1 driver needs to be within a second of the car in front to pull off a DRS overtake.

The F1 governing body, FIA, introduced new rules and regulations in 2022, making the new easier to follow and overtake. Let’s see whether the new regulations increase the number of overtakes in Formula 1.

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Looking back, F1 seems to be more technically advanced than NASCAR. But again, it’s all about perspective and subjectivity. Formula 1 might grab the attention of one individual, and NASCAR might do the same with another. So it comes down to you. What do you think? Which sport between F1 and NASCAR do you pick as your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.