“Beep – beep – beep – beep – beep -”
As the final red starting light comes on, the entire circuit falls so silent you can barely hear a pin drop. Then, as all the red lights go out, dozens of F1 machines roar off the line, racing down the track at speeds of 300 kilometers per hour. The tires dig into the asphalt, and the engines thunder, pounding like a heartbeat.
The racing scenes filmed on real F1 circuits in the recently released F1® The Movie, starring Brad Pitt, have been making waves. Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, an F1 driver who was forced to retire after a serious accident but makes a dramatic return to the track.
Watching the film, some people might wonder, “How do these cars hold up at such incredible speeds?” Winning a race isn’t just about the driver’s skill behind the wheel. It also depends on the power unit, chassis, and parts built to endure extreme conditions, along with the invisible technologies that safeguard them. Among these technologies, “lubricating oil” plays a crucial role.
Lubricating oil: The “Golden Lifeblood” that keeps cars alive
Lubricating oil is often referred to as the “lifeblood” of a car. It circulates through the engine, reducing friction between metal parts, cooling them, sweeping away debris, and protecting against corrosion. In racing cars like F1 machines, which run at the very edge of their limits, the role of lubricating oil becomes even more crucial. It controls friction and heat all the way to the finish line, helping the engine deliver its best performance.
What happens if a part malfunctions during a race? In the movie, the main character Sonny Hayes was once a rising star, but a crash during a race left him with a serious injury. The trauma from that accident makes him hesitant to return to F1.
On the track, even the smallest issue with a single part can lead to a catastrophic accident. That’s why real F1 teams analyze lubricating oil samples to quickly diagnose the condition of the engine and other components. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, which made history with eight consecutive championships from 2014 to 2021, can assess wear and tear using just two milliliters of oil and provide the analysis results to their engineers in under eight minutes.
Racing vs. Regular car lubricants: Key Difference
The biggest difference comes down to the extreme conditions racing cars face. Racing cars like F1 machines undergo rapid acceleration and braking, with their engines constantly exposed to extreme temperatures and pressures during a race. The conditions these machines endure are like a sprinter’s heart pounding at the limit throughout a 100-meter dash. Because of these conditions, racing lubricants need outstanding heat resistance and wear protection. They have to deliver stable performance even under intense heat and pressure.
In F1® The Movie, drivers take a lap around the track before the race, called the formation lap. This lap prepares for those extreme conditions. It’s a crucial step that warms up the engine and the lubricating oil, making sure everything is in peak condition before the race starts. Only then can the engine deliver maximum power, even when pushed right to the edge during the race.
On the other hand, the cars we drive every day face all kinds of situations, like sitting parked for long periods or frequent acceleration and braking. In these cases, it’s important for the oil to maintain viscosity for smooth flow and to protect the engine over time. Lubricants for regular cars are also designed to help with things like fuel efficiency and maintaining engine cleanliness.
From the racetrack to your neighborhood streets, one solution for all
Whether you’re driving a race car or your everyday vehicle, the importance of lubricating oil stays the same. ZIC, a leading Korean lubricant brand, delivers advanced technology trusted both on the racetrack and on daily roads.
ZIC Racing is a racing-specific lubricant designed to protect engine power even under extreme heat and high speeds by minimizing wear and friction. It incorporates technology from 6,000cc Stock Cars, offering exceptional engine protection as well as stable oil temperature and pressure.
This cutting-edge technology also extends to the lubricants used in our everyday passenger cars. A flagship product, ZIC TOP LS 5W-30, is a 100% synthetic engine oil officially certified to meet the stringent standards of European automakers. It ensures stable engine protection and optimal performance across diverse environmental conditions.
Behind this outstanding performance is the expertise of SK Enmove. As one of SK Innovation’s subsidiaries, SK Enmove produces base oil, the key ingredient that makes up 70 to 90 percent of lubricants. The quality of a lubricant heavily relies on the purity and consistency of its base oil. SK Enmove’s proprietary base oil brand, YUBASE, is exported to over 50 countries and is recognized for its world-class production capabilities in the premium base oil market (Group III and III+ base oils). That’s why ZIC lubricants are trusted to protect everything from high-performance race cars to the vehicles we drive every day.
The unseen force that keeps your car fast, reliable, and safe! Lubricating oil
In F1® The Movie, what really makes those intense races possible isn’t just the driver’s skill, the precision engineering, or even the incredible teamwork. It’s also the “unsung heroes” like lubricating oil that work behind the scenes. In a world where every hundredth of a second matters, these hidden secrets make all the difference.
The movie’s main character, Sonny Hayes, says,
“Money doesn’t matter.”
When someone asks, “Then what does?” he just gives a knowing smile.
What do you think Hayes was thinking in that moment? Perhaps the answer he never says out loud is his trust in the team that’s always by his side, and his boundless passion for racing. Just like ZIC lubricating oil, which quietly protects engines on the road every day with the same passion it brings to racing at 300 kilometers per hour.
