| The apex is the line around the corner drivers try | | | | correctly but swings wide on the left hand corner. |
| to keep their cars at to take the corner in the | | | | If the track has only right-hand or left-hand |
| fastest amount of time possible. There are two | | | | corners, this can be corrected with stagger, which |
| principles at work in the cornering of automobiles, | | | | is running larger tires on one side of the car. |
| especially in the racing world. The first one is | | | | In a traction circle, experienced drivers are always |
| weight distribution; even weight helps the small | | | | using the break and throttle to get as much tire |
| patch of each tire keep the same grip on the | | | | traction on the roadways as they can. The cars |
| road, allowing uniform steering and reaction. The | | | | are constantly in a state of oversteer or |
| second issue is the traction circle; in order to | | | | understeer; understeer is when the front end |
| complete the circuit in the fastest time, drivers | | | | breaks free from the centrifugal force and swings |
| learn how to maneuver around corners as quickly | | | | wide, oversteer is where the backend tries to |
| as possible without losing control by using gas and | | | | overtake the front-end. Understeering is easier to |
| brakes. | | | | correct; reducing the speed brings the car back |
| Formula 1 apex has been fine-tuning to be as | | | | into control. However, this is not a desirable option |
| accurate as possible in both static weight | | | | in the racing world. Different apexes on the |
| distribution and cross weight (the weight on the | | | | corners mean each corner has to be driven |
| tires in the corners). It is the skill of the driver | | | | differently. |
| that really makes the difference in how efficiently | | | | The formula 1 apex is different on almost all |
| a car corners. Professionals try to balance the | | | | corners even though the weight distribution is |
| weight evenly on all four tires. They can do this | | | | almost perfect; this car wins races because its |
| even compensating for the weight of the driver; | | | | drivers know how to push this magnificent racing |
| everything changes when a car goes into a turn. | | | | machine to the limit. |
| A car that is out of weight may turn right | | | | |