There were 957 pit stops during the 2012 season, including 14 drive-through and two stop-go penalties.

F1 helmets are among the toughest things in the world. Some of the tests they have to pass to be deemed legal to race in are being subjected to an 800 degrees C flame for 45 seconds (without the heat inside the helmet exceeding 70 degrees C) and a visor that has projectiles fired at it at around 300mph. If any of these make dents deeper than 2.5mm, the helmet also fails.

The front suspension of a Formula 1 car is so strong that it can withstand two tonnes of pressure. That means that those carbon fibre rods that connect the wheels to the main body could have an adult bull on top of them without breaking.