How Race Cars Work

What makes a Formula 1 race car one of the fastest machines on Earth? Why do race cars have wings? How do their tires grip the track? Why do the brakes get so hot? And could an F1 car really drive upside down?

Buckle up and join Red Racer and Roxy the Engineer as they take young readers inside the incredible machines of Formula 1!

Through Wei Ren's bold, colorful illustrations, captivating diagrams, amazing facts, and spectacular real Formula 1 racing photos captured trackside by award-winning motorsport photographer Jamey Price, kids discover how engines, aerodynamics, tires, brakes, suspension, safety systems, and advanced technology work together.

Written by Andy Amendola, author of several children's motorsport books and founder of Red Racer Books, How Race Cars Work draws on authentic racing knowledge and insights from motorsport insiders to make complex engineering concepts exciting and easy to understand.

From powerful hybrid engines to the science of downforce, every spread reveals another piece of the incredible engineering puzzle behind Formula 1.

Along the way, readers discover that speed isn't created by one powerful engine or clever wing. A Formula 1 race car is an extraordinary machine, with thousands of carefully designed parts and hundreds of people working together to find the perfect balance of power, grip, efficiency, and safety.

Created for curious kids ages 5–10, How Race Cars Work is packed with the fascinating details dedicated young racing fans will appreciate while remaining accessible to children discovering the sport for the first time.

For kids who love fast cars and want to know how they work.

Andy Amendola is the founder of Red Racer Books, a proud Hispanic American, and a dad of two. He discovered his love for motorsports later in life and wanted to share that excitement with his kids through books. When he realized there were very few children’s books about motorsports, Andy set out to write his own. Today, Andy continues to create stories for Red Racer Books while collaborating with writers, drivers, racing insiders, and illustrators to bring racing-inspired ideas to life. He lives just outside Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife, children, and their speedy pups, Skye and Zeus.

Wei Ren is a painter and illustrator based in Fuzhou, China. Originally trained as a UI designer, he brings a bold, dynamic visual style that captures the speed, energy, and emotion of the track.

Wei has collaborated with Andy Amendola on several books spanning different racing series. A proud father and fan of all things fast, he loves bringing the world of motorsport to life for young readers.