Referencing Guide

This guide explains how to correctly cite sources on the Formula One Technical Wiki. Proper referencing ensures transparency, technical accuracy, academic integrity, and legal compliance β€” especially when content includes data, engineering claims, or regulatory analysis.

πŸ“š Why Referencing Matters Edit

Referencing:

  • Validates technical and analytical content
  • Allows others to verify claims or examine source data
  • Encourages academic collaboration
  • Maintains licensing compliance (e.g., Wikipedia CC BY-SA reuse)

🧰 Referencing Syntax (Wikitext) Edit

Use <ref> tags for inline citations:

Modern venturi-style floors contribute over 65% of total downforce.<ref>FIA Technical Regulations 2023, Article 3.9.2</ref>

All references must appear in a == References == section at the end of the article:

== References ==
<references />

πŸ“˜ Acceptable Sources Edit

βœ… Recommended Sources Edit

  • FIA documents:
  • Team-published technical media (e.g. Mercedes whitepapers)
  • Peer-reviewed content:
    • SAE Technical Papers
    • Academic journals in engineering/motorsport
  • Engineering media:
    • RaceTech Magazine
    • Auto Motor und Sport (AMuS) Tech Archives
    • The-Race technical analysis
  • CFD and simulation company blogs (AVL, TotalSim)
  • Simulator platforms (e.g., AVL VSM, Cosworth Toolbox)

⚠️ Use with Caution Edit

  • Wikipedia (must be attributed; see below)
  • Reddit (only if linking directly to a valid primary source)
  • YouTube (only if from FIA or official teams)

❌ Do Not Use Edit

  • Speculative or fan blogs
  • Anonymous tweets or forums without citation
  • AI-generated content without source verification

πŸ“ Importing from Wikipedia Edit

Wikipedia content is published under the Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license, unless otherwise noted. You may import and adapt content if you meet the following conditions:

  • Mention the source in the edit summary, for example:
Adapted from Wikipedia:Energy recovery system, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • If reusing a substantial portion, include an attribution section:
== Attribution ==
This article includes content adapted from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_recovery_system Wikipedia], available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
  • Do not import non-free images or templates with proprietary licensing

πŸ”— External Link Formatting Edit

Use square brackets [URL Label] for links:

[https://www.fia.com FIA Official Website]

Use these primarily in:

  • Reference sections
  • Resource pages
  • Tables

πŸ“‚ Centralising References Edit

Whenever possible, add long or frequently reused references to:

This prevents redundancy and maintains consistency.

πŸ” Where to Find Reliable Sources Edit

βœ… Reference Checklist Edit

  • Is the source verifiable and non-speculative?
  • Is the reference placed using <ref> tags?
  • Is it listed in a <references /> block?
  • Is attribution included when reusing CC-licensed content?

πŸ§‘β€πŸ”§ See Also Edit