Mystery Markings

[still_guns]

I'm perplexed by the presence of a strange marking on every F1 car, in more or less the same place. In the video below, you can see what looks like an 'N' or a 'Z' inside a circle on almost every single car (save for some blurrly footage). What purpose does this marking serve for it to be present on every F1 car for over 15 years?

 

[AndrewBo]

The 'N' indicates the presence of a button which when pressed puts the car's transmission in Neutral. This is to assist the flag marshals in recovering cars which have expired somewhere out on the circuit and have to be pushed off or away from the track - or to a point where a crane can grab them.

Similarly, the 'E' is the emergency cut off button for all electrical power in the car, so the presence of that electricity doesn't do anything potentially harmful to anyone involved in a vehicle recovery situation, or more importantly so the car doesn't electrocute anyone who might be trying to rescue the driver from the wreck, or by sparking start a fuel fire.

 

[Omer Said]

Actually, "E" represents Ecclestone's domain and every team has to include that letter on their cars. I have no idea about the "N," but there are many rumours regarding Nilluminati and such organizations.

 

[Jimlaad43]

The 'N' indicates the presence of a button which when pressed puts the car's transmission in Neutral. This is to assist the flag marshals in recovering cars which have expired somewhere out on the circuit and have to be pushed off or away from the track - or to a point where a crane can grab them.

Similarly, the 'E' is the emergency cut off button for all electrical power in the car, so the presence of that electricity doesn't do anything potentially harmful to anyone involved in a vehicle recovery situation, or more importantly so the car doesn't electrocute anyone who might be trying to rescue the driver from the wreck, or by sparking start a fuel fire.
View attachment 138560

Nope, that E is the extinguisher. If you were out there trying to turn the electrics off and you pressed that button, you'd be a very unpopular marshal.

The electric cutoff button looks more like this

 

[AndrewBo]

@Jimlaad43
I've got my infos from here :
http://atlasf1.autosport.com/99/spn/preview/faq.html

 

[Jimlaad43]

I've got my info from being a marshal for 6 years, I know what markings are what

 

[TobiasR]

Will there be a Heineken button on any cars?

 

[Tim.E]

Ecclestone seemingly changed his motto from "think before you drive" to "drink before you drive"

 

[JamesU]

Weirdly enough, after reading this thread i was watching P2 and Alonso reaches out of his cockpit to push the N button so he can just roll into the pits!

 

[JamesU]

https://streamable.com/7q2s

 

[Johnny Russian]

according to the F1 website the 'E' is indeed the extinguisher. not sure where Mark Jones got his info from in that article that Andrew posted. https://www.formula1.com/content/fo...ip/inside-f1/rules-regs/Safety_equipment.html

Nope, that E is the extinguisher. If you were out there trying to turn the electrics off and you pressed that button, you'd be a very unpopular marshal.