As the 2008 F1 season ends on a high we now look forward to what should be one of the most fascinating off-seasons for many years. With radical changes to the technical rules, fraught political tension between the rule-makers and the teams, and two holes suddenly appearing in the calendar, these are the questions that … Continue reading F1 2009: 10 questions for the off-season
F1 Technology articles archive
F1 technology
Ferrari and Toyota threaten to quit F1 if Max Mosley forces standard engines
Posted onFerrari, F1’s oldest team, has threatened to quit over standard engines First Toyota, now Ferrari is threatening to pull its F1 team if Max Mosley persists with his plan to make all F1 teams use the same engine: The Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to standardise engines as it felt that … Continue reading Ferrari and Toyota threaten to quit F1 if Max Mosley forces standard engines
John Beamer’s F1 tech file: Shanghai
Posted onWhy did Felipe Massa race with a ‘shark fin’ but Kimi Raikkonen didn’t? How did Fernando Alonso’s ‘under-powered’ Renault out-drag Heikki Kovalainen? John Beamer of F1-Pitlane has the answers to these questions and more in his technical round-up for Shanghai.
John Beamer’s F1 tech file: Fuji
Posted onJohn Beamer from F1-Pitlane looks at the technical tweaks from Fuji. In contrast to the tight corners and slow speeds of the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore, Fuji Speedway, with its 1.5km start-finish straight, puts a premium on a low drag car. Although over 80% of the corners are low speed and would typically demand … Continue reading John Beamer’s F1 tech file: Fuji
John Beamer’s F1 tech file: Singapore
Posted onJohn Beamer, editor of F1-Pitlane, takes a look at the teams’ technical developments from the Singapore Grand Prix. The Singapore Grand Prix couldn’t have provided a more stark contrast to Monza two weeks ago. The tight, twisty street circuit snaking its way around Marina Bay called for a high downforce set-up, very different to the … Continue reading John Beamer’s F1 tech file: Singapore
John Beamer’s F1 tech file: Monza
Posted onIn what I hope will become a regular series John Beamer, editor of F1-Pitlane, takes a look at the teams’ technical developments from the Italian Grand Prix. Not only is Monza a classic F1 track but it unique among current F1 tracks in that it demands teams to bring one-off aero packages to the race. … Continue reading John Beamer’s F1 tech file: Monza
Video: KERS gives BMW mechanic shock
Posted onHere’s a video showing how a BMW mechanic suffered an electric shock and was thrown to the ground when he touched a car fitted with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS): The incident occured during testing at Jerez last week. Links below.
KERS causing problems for F1 teams
Posted onThe new-for-2009 Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) are starting to make their first appearances on F1 test machinery. However two teams have run into early problems with the devices. First Red Bull suffered a fire at their factory while working on the systems. And today a BMW mechanic got an electric shock while testing the … Continue reading KERS causing problems for F1 teams
McLaren’s technical innovations have put the MP4/23 ahead of the pack
Posted onMcLaren have made a clear step forward in performance in the last two races and Ferrari have struggled to compete. What has made McLaren so competitive all of a sudden? Like every other team they constantly develop their car through the season but three particular changes seem to have made a significant different: a new … Continue reading McLaren’s technical innovations have put the MP4/23 ahead of the pack
What F1 can learn from NASCAR II
Posted onRegular F1 Fanatic commenter Robert McKay has written a guest article looking at what F1 can learn from NASCAR – a subject we’ve looked at here before. Here’s his take on America’s favourite motor sport. I’ve recently started watching Sky’s NASCAR coverage. Readers of Keith’s other blog, Maximum Motorsport, will know he’s a bit annoyed … Continue reading What F1 can learn from NASCAR II
Problems with KERS and its impact on F1
Posted onMax Mosley has tried to shrug off growing demands for him to quit in the face of lurid revelations about his personal life and pushed ahead with his plans to introduce environmentally-friendly kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) in F1 from 2009. He has written to teams outlining a vision of how a more powerful KERS … Continue reading Problems with KERS and its impact on F1
What swimming can tell us about F1
Posted onThe world of swimming is up in arms about a controversial new piece of swimwear dubbed the Speedo LZR Racer. Its effectiveness in making swimmers faster can be judged by the fact that 33 swimming world records have been broken since February – 30 by users of the LZR gear. The Times’s top sporting scribe … Continue reading What swimming can tell us about F1
Ferrari has an unusual new nose
Posted onRumours began circulating that Ferrari were readying a radical new nose cone arrangement several weeks ago. They finally tested the device in public at Barcelona today and Autosport has a picture. Ferrari has essentially created a slotted hole in the nose through which air can pass. It allows air to flow at high pressure through … Continue reading Ferrari has an unusual new nose
The FIA must solve the customer car problem
Posted onOnce again the Super Aguri transporters have departed a testing session with the teams’ F1 cars not even having turned a wheel. The teams presence in the 2008 championship looks less likely with every passing day. They could be the second team to announce their non-participation in F1 this year, following Prodrive who were originally … Continue reading The FIA must solve the customer car problem
2008: The new rules
Posted onSeveral major changes to the rules this year have attracted a lot of attention – the traction control ban, four-race gearboxes, and changes to qualifying. Which change are going to have the biggest impact on F1 this year? Here’s a quick look at some of the rules changes for 2008.
A close look at McLaren’s standard ECU
Posted onAt the Autosport International show last weekend I came across the stand for McLaren Electronic Systems – the company which won the bid to provide the standard engine control unit to Formula 1 teams for 2008. Although the deal attracted little attention when it was announced in 2006 it has become a bone of contention, … Continue reading A close look at McLaren’s standard ECU
KERS technology revealed
Posted onA British company has confirmed it is working with a top F1 team on the development of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System planned for 2009. Torotrak is working with two other companies, Xtrac and Flybrid Systems, to supply several important technologies. These are Torotrak’s traction drive technology, a continuously variable transmissions (CVT) by Xtrac and … Continue reading KERS technology revealed
Banned: Tuned mass dampers
Banned!
Posted onThe biggest technical controversy of last season was the banning of Renault’s ‘tuned mass damper’ suspension system.
Banned: Active suspension
Banned!
Posted onLotus’ began developing active suspension in 1982. Ten years later an active suspension car run by a different team dominated world championship.
Banned! Four wheel drive
Posted onSeveral teams dabbled with four wheel drive cars before the technology was outlawed but all struggled to get enough of an advantage from the technology to justify the sacrifices made on other parts of the car. Often it was only when four-wheel drive power transmission was paired with other technologies that would be banned – … Continue reading Banned! Four wheel drive