Arrows A1

The Arrows A1 was a Formula One racing car designed by Dave Wass and built by the Arrows team for the 1978 Formula One season. It marked a significant departure for Arrows, moving away from the designs inherited from the Shadow team.

The A1 was powered by the ubiquitous Ford Cosworth DFV engine and used a Hewland FG400 gearbox. Its design focused on aerodynamic efficiency, incorporating a narrower monocoque compared to its predecessors. It featured a distinctive, low nose and smoothly contoured bodywork intended to minimize drag.

The car was driven by Riccardo Patrese, Rolf Stommelen, and later, by Tony Trimmer. While showing flashes of promise, particularly in qualifying, the A1 was ultimately hampered by reliability issues. It struggled to convert its potential into consistent race results. The car's best result was a 6th place finish achieved by Riccardo Patrese.

The Arrows A1 competed in the 1978 season and was replaced by the Arrows A1B for the following year. Although not a race winner, the A1 represented an important step in the development of the Arrows team and laid the groundwork for future car designs.