F1 Technical Know-How

->  A good start can make a driver's race; a bad one can all too often finish it.  But there are plenty of factors at play.

->  Drivers create a mental image of the start that they want to make before the race, which is why teams will prevent any media attention that could disrupt concentration, says Formula 1

->  Once the car's engine is started, the vehicle needs to begin moving.  The engines are primarily cooled by moving air; the heat created by running engines while stationary puts enormous strain on mechanical parts

->  During the warm up lap, the driver in pole position has to control the pace.  He needs to heat up his tyres through hard acceleration, braking and cornering, while also ensuring he does not finish the lap too quickly.  Or else he could end up sitting on the grid for too long and risk his car overheating.

->  Once all five red lights are extinguished to mark the start, the driver has to balance his ambition of overtaking the cars ahead, yet make sure he himself is not overtaken.