The 6 Weirdest Formula 1 Cars Ever Built

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Formula One Forever

10 min readJul 12, 2023

F1 team designers built some very imaginative and technologically advanced Formula 1 cars

The Tyrrell P34 with 6 wheels. Credit — Formula 1

Formula 1 is a sport where innovation and creativity are essential to gain an edge over the competition. Sometimes, however, teams come up with designs that are so bizarre and unconventional that they make us wonder what they were thinking.

Here are some of the weirdest F1 cars ever built, and the stories behind them.

The Four-Wheel-Drive Pioneer: Ferguson P99

The Ferguson P99 might not look like much, but it was a groundbreaking machine in more ways than one. It was the first and only four-wheel-drive F1 car to win a race, and the last front-engined F1 car to do so.

The P99 was the brainchild of Harry Ferguson, an Irish inventor and engineer who wanted to showcase the benefits of four-wheel-drive technology. He believed that it would provide better traction, handling, and braking than conventional rear-wheel-drive cars.

To achieve this, he had to overcome some challenges. He used smaller and lighter components to offset the extra weight of the four driveshafts, and he mounted the engine at the front to balance the weight distribution. He also had to squeeze the gearbox next to the driver, who sat slightly to the right.

The Ferguson P99 inspired a smattering of 4WD open-wheel cars. Credit — Formula 1

Stirling Moss driving the Ferguson P99 at Oulton Park, 1961. Credit — Formula 1

The P99 made its debut in 1961, but it was not eligible for the world championship as F1 had switched to 1.5-litre engines that year. Instead, it competed in non-championship races, where it faced stiff competition from the likes of Lotus, Ferrari, and Cooper.

The P99’s finest hour came at the Oulton Park International Gold Cup, a prestigious event that attracted many top drivers. In damp conditions, Stirling Moss took the wheel of the P99 and drove a masterful race, beating Jack Brabham by 46 seconds.

It was a remarkable achievement for Ferguson and Moss, but it was also their swansong. Ferguson died in 1960, before seeing his creation win a race. Moss suffered a career-ending crash in 1962, ending his association with the P99. Four-wheel-drive technology never caught on in F1, although some teams experimented with it before it was banned in 1982.

The P99 remains a unique and fascinating piece of F1 history and a testament to Ferguson’s vision and Moss’s skill.

The Six-Wheeled Wonder: Tyrrell P34

If you think four wheels are too many, how about six? That’s what Tyrrell came up with in 1976, when they unveiled their radical P34 car. It had four tiny wheels at the front and two normal-sized wheels at the back.

The idea behind this design was to improve aerodynamics and grip. By using smaller front wheels, Tyrrell hoped to reduce drag and increase airflow under the car. By having four front wheels instead of two, they also aimed to increase contact patch and cornering ability.

The car caused quite a stir when it was unveiled. Credit — Formula 1

The six-wheeler was kept a secret until its unveiling. Credit — Formula 1

Patrick Depailler enjoyed the P34 more than Jody Scheckter and Ronnie Peterson. Credit — Formula 1

The Tyrrell P34 had transparent cut-outs in the cockpit to allow the drivers to see the front wheels. Credit — Formula 1

The P34 was designed by Derek Gardner, who was inspired by the concept of four-wheel-drive. He reasoned that if four wheels could provide better traction than two, then six wheels could provide better traction than four.

The P34 made its debut at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1976, where it caused quite a stir. It proved to be competitive, especially on twisty tracks where its nimble handling gave it an advantage. Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler scored several podiums with the P34, and Scheckter even won the Swedish Grand Prix with it.

However, not everyone was happy with the six-wheeled car. Scheckter soon grew frustrated with its reliability and performance issues, and claimed that it was “a piece of junk”. Tyrrell also struggled to find suitable tyres for their unusual car, as their supplier Goodyear had to develop special rubber for them.

The P34 was abandoned after 1977, as new regulations made it obsolete. It remains the only six-wheeled car to have won a Grand Prix, and one of the most iconic examples of F1 innovation.

The Wingless Wonder: Arrows A2

Can you imagine an F1 car without wings? That’s what Arrows tried in 1979, when they introduced their A2 car. It had no conventional front or rear wings, but instead relied on ground effect to generate downforce.

Ground effect was a phenomenon that used the shape of the car’s underside to create a low-pressure area that sucked the car to the ground. It was pioneered by Lotus in the late 1970s, and gave them a huge advantage over their rivals.

The Arrows A2 is one of F1’s boldest designs. Credit — Formula 1

Jochen Mass in the A2 at Dijon, 1979. Credit — Formula 1

The A2 had front wings mounted next to the wheels. Credit — Formula 1

Arrows wanted to take ground effect to the next level, by making the whole car into one big wing. They designed the A2 with a flat nose and a low rear end, with the aim of channeling air underneath the car at high speed. They also mounted the front wing just above the front suspension, and the rear wing between the rear wheels.

The A2 was a bold and ambitious project, but it didn’t work as expected. The car suffered from severe instability and poor handling, as it bounced up and down on the track. It also lacked straight-line speed, as it had too much drag and not enough power.

Arrows only used the A2 for half of the 1979 season, before switching back to a more conventional design. The A2 was a failure, but it was also a fascinating experiment in aerodynamics.

The Fan-tastic Car: Brabham BT46B

If you thought Arrows were clever with their ground effect car, wait until you see what Brabham did in 1978. They fitted a huge fan at the back of their BT46B car, which literally sucked the car to the track.

The BT46B was designed by Gordon Murray, who was looking for a way to compete with Lotus and their dominant ground effect car. He realized that he couldn’t use the same technique, as his car had a flat engine that prevented him from creating a smooth airflow under the car.

He came up with a brilliant solution: use a fan to create a vacuum under the car, which would increase downforce and grip. The fan was powered by the engine, and was hidden behind a shroud that also acted as a rear wing.

The fan on the rear of the Brabham BT46B. Credit — Formula 1

The fan car was withdrawn after just one race. Credit — Formula 1

The team soon found that the cover of a rubbish bin proved an effective cover for the fan. Credit — Formula 1

The BT46B made its debut at the Swedish Grand Prix in 1978, where it caused a sensation. Niki Lauda drove it to victory, while his teammate John Watson finished second. The fan car was so fast that it lapped everyone except Watson.

However, the fan car also caused a lot of controversy. Other teams protested that it was illegal, as it violated the rule that banned movable aerodynamic devices. Brabham argued that the fan was mainly used for cooling purposes, but their claim was not convincing.

Under pressure from their rivals, Brabham withdrew the fan car after its only race appearance. It was a short-lived but spectacular episode in F1 history, and one that showed Murray’s genius and creativity.

The Turbine-Powered Car: Lotus 56B

What if you could power an F1 car with something other than a combustion engine? That’s what Lotus tried in 1971, when they brought their 56B car to F1. It had no pistons or cylinders, but instead used a gas turbine engine.

The gas turbine engine was originally designed for helicopters, and even used in a train. It was very compact and lightweight and produced more power than a conventional engine. It also had no gearbox or clutch, which simplified the drivetrain.

Emerson Fittipaldi at the wheel of the Lotus 56B at Monza in 1971. Credit — Formula 1

Reine Wissell at the wheel of the Lotus 56B at Silverstone, 1971. Credit — Formula 1

The 56B was based on the 56 car that Lotus had used at the Indy 500 in 1968, where it almost won. It had four-wheel drive and a wedge-shaped body that generated downforce. Lotus hoped that it would be competitive in F1 as well.

However, they soon discovered that the gas turbine engine had some drawbacks. It had poor throttle response and fuel consumption, and it was very noisy and hot. It also lacked torque at low speeds, which made it difficult to drive on twisty tracks.

The 56B only raced in three non-championship events and three Grands Prix in 1971, with little success. Its best result was eighth place at Monza with Emerson Fittipaldi. Lotus abandoned the gas turbine project after that year, but they kept the wedge profile for their next car, the legendary 72.

The Tea Tray Car: March 711

Last but not least, we have the March 711, also known as the “Tea Tray Car”. It had a distinctive front wing that looked like a serving tray, hence its nickname.

The 711 was designed by Robin Herd, who wanted to create a car that could generate downforce without using conventional wings. He came up with the idea of using a flat surface at the front of the car, which would act as a wing and create lift.

The tea tray wing was mounted on two struts that extended from the nose of the car. It was adjustable, so the driver could change its angle to suit different tracks and conditions. It also had a small lip at the front, which helped to direct air over the car.

Ronnie Peterson at the wheel of the March 711 at the 1971 British GP. Credit — Formula 1

A side view of the March 711 at the 1971 Questor GP. Credit — Formula 1

A front view of the March 711 and its ‘tea tray’ wing. Credit — Formula 1

The 711 made its debut in 1971, and proved to be quite competitive. Ronnie Peterson drove it to second place in the championship, behind Jackie Stewart. He scored four podiums and one pole position with it.

However, the tea tray wing also had some drawbacks. It was fragile and prone to breaking, and it caused a lot of drag. It also made the car unstable at high speeds, as it generated lift instead of downforce.

March abandoned the tea tray wing after 1971, and switched to a more conventional design. The 711 remains one of the most unusual and memorable F1 cars ever built.

Final Thoughts

F1 is a sport where creativity and innovation are rewarded, but sometimes they can also lead to some weird and wonderful creations. These are just some of the weirdest F1 cars ever built, but there are many more examples of teams pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

As an F1 enthusiast, I love seeing these strange machines and learning about their stories.

They remind us that F1 is not just about speed and technology, but also about imagination and venturing into the unknown against all odds.

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