Gary Paffett F1 testing

[TobyTR]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/motorsport/formula-...

Insightful read. Didn't realise Paffett had so much experience! God I miss those V10s

[em177]

TobyTR said:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/motorsport/formula-...

Insightful read. Didn't realise Paffett had so much experience! God I miss those V10s

"When we had the F1 cars with blown diffusers, they were completely different from before because the more throttle you had on, the more downforce you had. In other F1 cars you’d get on the power and you’d get a bit of wheelspin, so you’d wait. With these cars you’d get a bit of wheelspin so you would have to apply more throttle to get more downforce and get rid of the wheelspin."

[btcc123]

The problem with the current Formula 1 cars is they are not challenging to drive.the kids from GP2 can drive them and after the race the drivers look as if they have just popped up the Supermarket for a bottle of milk.

In 2017 when they change the cars they should take a leaf out of the early 1980s,no power steering,manual gearboxes,bigger cars with wider tyres,qualifying engines with 1500 BHP that wheelspin in the dry in top gear and see the drivers knackered at the end of the race.

Unfortunately we cannot expect these cars to return but lets get the cars to be a real challenge for the drivers and at least take some of the ideas from the past.

[GroundEffect]

btcc123 said:

In 2017 when they change the cars they should take a leaf out of the early 1980s,no power steering,manual gearboxes,bigger cars with wider tyres,qualifying engines with 1500 BHP that wheelspin in the dry in top gear and see the drivers knackered at the end of the race.

Unfortunately we cannot expect these cars to return but lets get the cars to be a real challenge for the drivers and at least take some of the ideas from the past.

The early 80s were around 700-800BHP with 1986 being the peak. Roughly 900BHP in race-trim. 1200BHP-ish in quali. Certainly no 1500BHP.

[anonymous-user]

They don't know how much power they produced as the dyno couldn't measure it. They estimated 1400BHP was seen in qualy at one stage.

[DuckAvenger]

You should ask poppopbangbang about those power figures.

[b16a2_VTi]

Good read indeed!

[Nigel_O]

Jenson Button has said on TV that the current cars are not challenging to drive (and thus too easy and a bit boring)

I remember seeing Senna physically unable to get himself out of the car at the end of the '91 Brazilian GP - probably a bit extreme, but drivers shouldn't be getting out of a car at the end of a race without looking just a BIT bedraggled and knackered

[btcc123]

GroundEffect said:

btcc123 said:

In 2017 when they change the cars they should take a leaf out of the early 1980s,no power steering,manual gearboxes,bigger cars with wider tyres,qualifying engines with 1500 BHP that wheelspin in the dry in top gear and see the drivers knackered at the end of the race.

Unfortunately we cannot expect these cars to return but lets get the cars to be a real challenge for the drivers and at least take some of the ideas from the past.

The early 80s were around 700-800BHP with 1986 being the peak. Roughly 900BHP in race-trim. 1200BHP-ish in quali. Certainly no 1500BHP.

Nigel Mansell has spoken several times about the Honda qualifying engine with 1500 BHP,wheel spin in every gear and a monster to drive.

Also in 1983 Brabham, Arrows and Benetton used a 1.5 litre BMW engine with 1500 BHP.

[CanAm]

btcc123 said:

Nigel Mansell has spoken several times about the Honda qualifying engine with 1500 BHP,wheel spin in every gear and a monster to drive.

Also in 1983 Brabham, Arrows and Benetton used a 1.5 litre BMW engine with 1500 BHP.

As did this German drag-bike! (apologies for the poor quality photo)

[DuckAvenger]

btcc123 said:

Nigel Mansell has spoken several times about the Honda qualifying engine with 1500 BHP,wheel spin in every gear and a monster to drive.

Also in 1983 Brabham, Arrows and Benetton used a 1.5 litre BMW engine with 1500 BHP.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M12#Formula_One

[entropy]

Nigel_O said:

Jenson Button has said on TV that the current cars are not challenging to drive (and thus too easy and a bit boring)

I remember seeing Senna physically unable to get himself out of the car at the end of the '91 Brazilian GP - probably a bit extreme, but drivers shouldn't be getting out of a car at the end of a race without looking just a BIT bedraggled and knackered

Conversely at the end of the 1986 British GP (which can be viewed on YT) Piquet and Prost were out of their cars and fresh as a daisy whereas Mansell - as much as I love him as a racer - playing to the audience and makes a show of how exhausting it all was.

btcc123 said:

The problem with the current Formula 1 cars is they are not challenging to drive.the kids from GP2 can drive them and after the race the drivers look as if they have just popped up the Supermarket for a bottle of milk.

Depends how one defines "challenging to drive". The drivers and some fans want to go back to masses of downforce with the ability to rip your limbs and head off and there are those (me included) who prescribe to BHP over grip and wrestling control of the car.

Either way Paffett's description of the blown diffuser cars reminds me off Patrese grabbing Mansell's balls - to check its size - at the '91/92 British GP and that its about who dares carry more speed into a corner and nail the throttle earlier.

Oh and lets not forget that driver preparation is top notch these days in the era of sport science and personal trainers.

[John D.]

That was a very interesting article. Thanks for posting.