<P> All cars have the engine located between the driver and the rear axle . The engines are a stressed member in most cars, meaning that the engine is part of the structural support framework, being bolted to the cockpit at the front end, and transmission and rear suspension at the back end . </P> <P> In the 2004 championship, engines were required to last a full race weekend . For the 2005 championship, they were required to last two full race weekends and if a team changes an engine between the two races, they incur a penalty of 10 grid positions . In 2007, this rule was altered slightly and an engine only had to last for Saturday and Sunday running . This was to promote Friday running . In the 2008 season, engines were required to last two full race weekends; the same regulation as the 2006 season . However, for the 2009 season, each driver is allowed to use a maximum of 8 engines over the season, meaning that a couple of engines have to last three race weekends . This method of limiting engine costs also increases the importance of tactics, since the teams have to choose which races to have a new or an already - used engine . </P> <P> As of the 2014 season, all F1 cars have been equipped with turbocharged 1.6 - litre V6 engines . Turbochargers had previously been banned since 1988 . This change may give an improvement of up to 29% fuel efficiency . One of the many reasons that Mercedes dominated the season early, was due to the placement of the turbocharger's compressor at one side of the engine, and the turbine at the other; both were then linked by a shaft travelling through the vee of the engine . The benefit is that air is not traveling through as much pipework, in turn reducing turbo lag and increases efficiency of the car . In addition, it means that the air moving through the compressor is much cooler as it is further away from the hot turbine section . </P> <P> Formula One cars use semi-automatic sequential gearboxes, with regulations stating that 8 forward gears (increased from 7 from the 2014 season onwards) and 1 reverse gear must be used, with rear - wheel drive . The gearbox is constructed of carbon titanium, as heat dissipation is a critical issue, and is bolted onto the back of the engine . Full automatic gearboxes, and systems such as launch control and traction control, are illegal, to keep driver skill important in controlling the car . The driver initiates gear changes using paddles mounted on the back of the steering wheel and electro - hydraulics perform the actual change as well as throttle control . Clutch control is also performed electro - hydraulically, except to and from a standstill, when the driver operates the clutch using a lever mounted on the back of the steering wheel . </P>

The term formula in formula 1 refers specifically to the type of gasoline used to power the cars