This car is basically a road legal F1 car

The quest for speed and power

Let’s face it, we’re all here because we like ourselves some fast cars. I write about Formula 1 on this site so I would know. And on that note, some of us may have thought about what it would be like to DRIVE a Formula 1 car on the road. Luckily for you, I have just the suggestion for you. A vehicle that is so much like a Formula 1 car that it WON the 2020 Australian Grand Prix. I present to you… The 2006 Ford Freestar

 

The Categories:

Yes, that’s correct. This thing is so unbelievably similar to a Formula 1 car and we’ve got all the reasons why. From my own experience in driving the Freestar in real life and the 6 Formula 1 Driver’s Championships that I’ve won (that were definitely not on the Formula 1 Game), I’ll explain why. The categories we’ll cover are…

• Power Unit
• Tires
• Handling
• Looks

Got it?  Then let’s begin.

Power Unit.

You might be wondering something like “How on earth could a 14-year-old Ford minivan engine have anything to with Formula 1 Cars? It’s quite simple. Current Formula 1 Cars are powered by 1.6L V6 Turbo-Hybrids, with the hybrid portion of the power unit consisting of a Motor Generation Unit-Kinetic(MGU-K) and a Motor Generation Unit-Heat(MGU-H) feeding back into a battery, which then provides it’s electric power to the transmission at the rear. The Freestar is EXTREMELY similar.

First off, the SE model is powered by a 4.2L V6, which is the exact same cylinder count as a current Formula 1 car. You might think that displacement causes an issue; but in reality, 4.2L just means this V6 is approximately 2.625 times better than a Formula 1 V6 Engine. Additionally, the Freestar also has an electrical component that functions very similarly. When driving at low speeds or when braking, the MGU systems will replenish the battery of an F1 power unit marginally. A modern F1 car also can’t function without that electrical component. Likewise, when running the Freestar, your movement also charges the battery, only it’ll do this at all speeds as it is a MUCH more efficient and effective system. The Freestar also can’t function without its battery (Ask me how I know…), which is making this all too similar. If you couldn’t tell by now, the Power Units of both vehicles are remarkably similar, almost uncannily so. When I actually thought about it, the 2006 Freestar predates the V6 Hybrid era by 8 Years, so while many would say the Automotive industry uses Formula 1 Technology, doesn’t that mean Formula 1 uses Freestar Technology?

Tires:

Now, what could the tires have in common with each other? Well, it’s actually so close, we had to be academic in the end. Essentially, the Freestar’s tires are made of a tough elastic polymeric substance made from the latex of a tropical plant or synthetic wrapped around a metal structure. Formula 1 tires are basically the same to be honest, especially the wet ones. The Slicks are smoother and softer but honestly, they’re exactly the same otherwise

There’s also one major advantage to the Ford Freestar’s tires, they easily stay put, unlike that one team…

 

Handling

The Handling of the Ford Freestar and a Formula 1 Car are very similar. To look at acceleration, an F1 car goes to 0-60 in about 2 seconds, while the Freestar reaches it in a blistering 9—, you know what, it’s still better than Charles Leclerc at the end of the 2019 Bahrain race… Or Liam Payne in the 2020 Virtual Grand Prix…

The Freestar is also very similar in terms of stability and braking. While mine is personally prone to vibrations above 60 miles per hour, this is still just like a Formula 1 Car, being extremely similar to Kimi Räikkönen’s McLaren at the 2005 European GP

Looks

Alright, I’ll admit, perhaps they don’t look all too similar to the eye. But in spite of this, I’d say they still share the same fundamentals. I mean, look at them. There’s 2 wheels up front, 2 at the back. All 4 visibly mounted on suspension. Additionally, it comes in a variety of colors, just like Formula 1 Cars. In fact, a red Freestar and that V6? Yeah, it’s basically a Ferrari Formula 1 car

In Summary…

There you go, the reasons as to why a 2006 Ford Freestar is basically a road-legal Formula 1 car. I do hope you enjoyed reading this review and comparison, truly, I mean it. After all, I definitely didn’t just write this as an attempt at reaching the bottom of the barrel of anything I’ll ever write.