Steel developed at MIT is key to Formula One, Baja 1000, and MIT Motorsports
MIT has developed a high-performance steel called Ferrium C61, which has been successfully used in Formula One and Baja 1000 race cars. This steel has now been incorporated into the 2026 electric race car built by the student-run MIT Motorsports team. The material was designed using computational methods pioneered at MIT, showcasing the university's innovative approach to materials science.
- ▪Ferrium C61 was designed using computational methods at MIT and has been used in various racing applications.
- ▪The steel significantly improved the lifespan of gears in Baja 1000 vehicles, increasing their average race completion from 0.6 to 6 races.
- ▪Red Bull Racing adopted Ferrium C61 for their gearsets, leading to no gearbox failures during their championship-winning seasons.
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Ferrium C61 was designed with the aid of computers in a field pioneered at the Institute. Elizabeth A. Thomson | Materials Research Laboratory Publication Date: May 20, 2026 Press Inquiries Press Contact: Elizabeth A. Thomson Email: [email protected] Phone: 857-756-9457 MIT Materials Research Laboratory Close Caption: Gearset for the 2026 race car made by the MIT Motorsports team. It is made of a high-performance steel with MIT origins. Credits: Photo courtesy of MIT Motorsports. Previous image Next image A high-performance steel with MIT origins has come full circle.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at MIT News.