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Everything Technical in F1

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Re: Everything Technical in F1

#41

Post by camtarn »

paddy_m wrote: post #20
wmeredith wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are some really crazy stories around bending the rules. Or pushing human technologies to the limit to achieve the smallest advantages. Here is one of my favorites: I read a really interesting print article a few years ago about one of the big F-1 teams (McLaren?) creating the first carbon fiber transmission housing. This was a HUGE deal at the time because in F-1, the transmissions are structural component of t…

The rulebook specifically forbids the teams from using depleted uranium for ballast. I think most of the teams use tungsten, it's more dense than lead. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=tungsten+density+vs+lea... A carbon fiber transmission, properly constructed would allow for tighter aerodynamic packaging. Adrian Newey (the current Red Bull designer) is famous for making cars fragile and very aerodynamic. Someti…

Argh, fat fingered the downvote button - Android browser's hit area guessing can be infuriating at times.

So I'll just have to say in a comment that your comment about DU ballast made me grin :)

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#42

Post by mgl »

If you are interested in how the construction of F1 car is an equilibrium between technological advances and hard limits set by the FIA just go through the "Technical Regulations" section on the right hand side at http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/tech..., "approved by the FIA" is a very common phrase.

Software-related excerpt from "Electrical systems":

"The electrical and software systems of all cars are inspected by the FIA at the start of the season and the teams must notify them in advance of any subsequent changes. All teams must use the same FIA-specification Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for controlling engine and gearbox.

All software must be registered with the FIA, who check all the programmable systems on the cars prior to each event to ensure that the correct software versions are being used. Electronic systems which can automatically detect the race start signal are forbidden."

"notify them in advance of any subsequent changes", right...

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#43

Post by Gazk »

chadgeidel wrote: post #34
ImprovedSilence wrote: post #10

If you ever have a chance to go to an F1 race, do it. You might have a terrible view of the race, but it is the greatest sound you will ever hear. It's like the sky is getting ripped apart by a million banshees.

I have not been able to visit an F1 race, but for another wonderful sound (that you feel more than hear) a Top Fuel drag race is right up there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Fuel Apologies for those of you living outside of the United States, I'm not sure how widespread this form of racing is.

In the UK we have Santa Pod which runs Top Fuel drag races. Its definitely an experience. I have been to a few F1 races and the top fuel dragsters are noisier.

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#44

Post by tricky »

chadgeidel wrote: post #34
ImprovedSilence wrote: post #10

If you ever have a chance to go to an F1 race, do it. You might have a terrible view of the race, but it is the greatest sound you will ever hear. It's like the sky is getting ripped apart by a million banshees.

I have not been able to visit an F1 race, but for another wonderful sound (that you feel more than hear) a Top Fuel drag race is right up there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Fuel Apologies for those of you living outside of the United States, I'm not sure how widespread this form of racing is.

I got a free ticket to one of these races and woah... it was unreal. My favorite part was how awful the engines sound while they're lining up to start. They sputter and generally sound like crap until a crew member hits a switch. The engines suddenly settle into some sort of perfectly tuned resonance until the lights turn green and they simply explode down the track.

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#45

Post by philjohn »

One of the big draws for me in F1 is the technology. Each team is, more or less, producing a prototype car each year, and developing it throughout the season. Over the course of 8 months the cars get ~ 1 - 2 seconds a lap faster.

There are some mandated "common" parts, such as the McLaren ECU, but so many parts of the car are custom designed and manufactured it really does boggle the mind.

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#46

Post by trafficlight »

chadgeidel wrote: post #34
ImprovedSilence wrote: post #10

If you ever have a chance to go to an F1 race, do it. You might have a terrible view of the race, but it is the greatest sound you will ever hear. It's like the sky is getting ripped apart by a million banshees.

I have not been able to visit an F1 race, but for another wonderful sound (that you feel more than hear) a Top Fuel drag race is right up there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Fuel Apologies for those of you living outside of the United States, I'm not sure how widespread this form of racing is.

And the smell. Nothing quite like it.

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#47

Post by [deleted] »

chadgeidel wrote: post #34
ImprovedSilence wrote: post #10

If you ever have a chance to go to an F1 race, do it. You might have a terrible view of the race, but it is the greatest sound you will ever hear. It's like the sky is getting ripped apart by a million banshees.

I have not been able to visit an F1 race, but for another wonderful sound (that you feel more than hear) a Top Fuel drag race is right up there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Fuel Apologies for those of you living outside of the United States, I'm not sure how widespread this form of racing is.

[deleted]

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#48

Post by Zenst »

ImprovedSilence wrote: post #10

If you ever have a chance to go to an F1 race, do it. You might have a terrible view of the race, but it is the greatest sound you will ever hear. It's like the sky is getting ripped apart by a million banshees.

That and drag racing. For me just outside the airport with concord overhead whilst not supersonic it left memory you just don't forget.

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#49

Post by taligent »

junto wrote: post #25

A friend of mine was a transmission/gearbox designer for F1 cars. It was fascinating to hear about the things going on behind the scenes. Most teams have components built by a handful of specialized external engineering companies. Some things are dealt with internally, but the lower order teams don't have the budgets to deal with much of the technology in-house. Ferrari is the exception and they do almost everything…

Actually in this year it is the middle tier of teams that have been responsible for most of the race-affecting accidents. In particular Maldonardo (Williams) and Grosjean (Lotus).

I've found the bottom tier of teams to mostly be harmless. Usually they don't end up finishing races but are a great breeding ground for upcoming talent.

Re: Everything Technical in F1

#50

Post by scott_karana »

As cool as the technology in F1 is, I wonder what might be created if there weren't such labyrinthine rules imposed on them. I think a league like Can-Am, with only a budget cap, would be fascinating. Would we be seeing three-wheel drive cars? Supercapacitor-driven electrics? Something entirely different?

(For those who don't know, many innovations came out of the league [1], especially from the Chapparal constructor. McLaren was another notable.)

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can-Am#Pioneering_technology [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaparral_Cars

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