Ever wondered what goes on inside a Formula 1 car? Well, it turns out that we’re not the only ones, and fortuitously for us, some people with the actual means to find out — theSauber F1 team — have done the noble thing, and cut one in half. Yes, a real F1 car.

As with all forms of motorsport, the trick is to get as much weight as low to the ground as possible. For the driver, that means a seating position that’s not just cramped, but a mere 10 centimeters off the ground. Directly behind him is a Kevlar-lined fuel tank fitted with a series of baffles to keep high-test gas from sloshing around as the car brakes, accelerates and turns at g-forces normally reserved for fighter pilots.

It’s an impressive example of what it takes to create some of the fastest vehicles on the planet.

The endeavor could not have been as easy as taking a chainsaw or even a Goldfinger-style laser and cutting it in two. In fact, the task took the team two years to complete, and all you have to do is scroll down and watch the video to see the results.

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