6 Formula 1 technologies revolutionizing everyday life

1. Ventilators

During the Covid pandemic, Formula 1 teams shifted focus from racing to healthcare, with engineers from Red Bull, Mercedes, Renault, Williams, Haas, and Racing Point collaborating to accelerate ventilator production.

With approval from the U.K. government, F1 manufacturing sites were repurposed to produce over 10,000 ventilators for more than 130 hospitals, with peak daily output reaching 1,000 units, according to lifestyle magazine Robb Report.

2. Supermarket refrigeration

Williams Racing partnered with UK-based refrigeration tech firm Aerofoil Energy to apply aerodynamic technology to supermarket fridges, helping reduce energy consumption, according to a Formula 1 publication.

Inspired by the design of an F1 rear wing, the aluminium device keeps cold air contained within open refrigeration units, minimizing energy loss and improving efficiency. This technology has been adopted by major UK supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, M&S, and Asda.

The F1 inspired Aerofoil devices installed in Sainsbury’s supermarket in the U.K.. Photo courtesy of Sainsbury’s

3. Pediatric surgery

Inspired by the coordination of pit stops, doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in the U.K. worked with McLaren and Ferrari to improve the post-surgery handover of infants.

Engineers observed that, unlike F1 teams, medical staff lacked defined roles during the transition from operating room to intensive care. Applying F1 principles led to a 42% drop in technical errors and influenced protocols in hospitals nationwide.

4. Toothpaste production

Formula 1’s meticulous planning, where teams prepare for every possible scenario, whether it's a Safety Car period, unexpected tire degradation, or faster rivals, has extended beyond the track.

In 2011, McLaren Applied Technologies applied this approach to assist pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline in optimizing factory processes for toothpaste manufacturing.

By simulating production changeovers, McLaren helped reduce downtime by 60%, enabling the facility to produce an estimated 20 million additional tubes annually.

Ferrari Marlboro 248 F1. Photo from Instagram

5. Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber gained wider use in 1981 when McLaren’s John Barnard introduced the first composite monocoque chassis in F1.

Lightweight and strong, the material is now used in products ranging from custom wheelchairs to neonatal transport pods. In automobiles, carbon fiber adds both performance and visual appeal, often appearing in rear wings, spoilers, and decorative interior elements, according to The Washington Post.

6. Road cars

In 1989, Ferrari introduced paddle shifters, pull-tabs behind the steering wheel that allow for quicker and smoother gear changes in automatic and semi-automatic transmissions. By 1997, the technology was featured in the Ferrari F355 consumer car.

Once found only in the most exotic supercars, paddle shifters are now common in even standard sedans.