Inerters first surfaced in the secretive world of Formula One when McLaren began using a suspension component dubbed the J-Damper. This was in fact an inerter, a component that while elementary in theory, provides a powerful additional tool when controlling chassis movement. The inerter was developed by a Professor Smith, of Cambridge University, England, as a solution to the age-old problem of balancing ride compliance with stiffness. A regular suspension set-up, be it on a car or...

The proliferation and benefits of additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing as it is now more commonly known, has enabled it to find favour across multiple industries. Formula One is no exception, with the sport consistently being one of the earliest adopters and hardest driver of new technologies in its continual search for performance gains. 3D printing with polymers has been available for more than 20 years and has been used by Formula One engineers, but if you exclude the...