2011 F1 Season thread

[The Boston Dangler]

wow, major leaps for 2014:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/07/20/f1-cars-electric-power-pits-2014/

F1 cars will have to run on electrical power only in the pit lane from 2014.

The technical rules for 2014 published by the FIA state cars must run “in electric mode” with “no ignition and no fuel supply to the engine at all times when being driven in the pit lane.”

Teams will be able to use both kinetic energy recovery and, for the first time, also recover energy from exhaust heat.

The kinetic element of the system will be twice as powerful as that used today with 120kW available.

The rules also define the new 1.6-litre V6 engines which will be introduced. These will be limited to 15,000rpm, down from 18,000 today.

They will retain the same 90-degree V-angle, and be restricted to a maximum fuel flow of 100kg/h.

The design, dimensions and materials used in the new engines are defined in more specific terms by the rules than the current V8s, which were introduced in 2006.

Self-starting motors

A further change to the rules will enable F1 cars to do something every road car is capable of – start on its own.

The rules will require drivers to be able to start the engine “when seated normally at the wheel and without any external assistance.”

This should put an end to drivers retiring from races because of stalled engines.

Minimum weight increase

The minimum weight of the cars will increase again, to 660kg (from 640kg).

A minimum weight for the power unit (including the engine and energy recovery system) has been set at 155kg – previously the engine alone was subject to a minimum weight of 95kg.

Smaller front wings

An addition to the rules on bodywork will reduce the size of front wings. At present these may use the full 1,800mm width of the cars – from 2014 they will be cut to 1,650mm.

Further tightening of restrictions at the front and rear of the car, and around the middle of the car to continue the work begun in the 2009 regulations changes to ‘clean up’ the appearance of the cars and reduce the number of small aerodynamic appendages.
Extra gear

The number of forward gears will be increased to eight – and no fewer.

The FIA will allow a dispensation in 2014 when teams nominate which gear ratios they will use: “For 2014 only, a competitor may re-nominate these ratios once within the Championship season, in which case the original nomination becomes immediately void.

“Ratio re-nominations must be declared as a set and may only be effected by the substitution of change gears.”

See the changes to the rules in full on the FIA’s website.

What’s your view on the rules changes for 2014? Are you pleased with all the changes? Have your say in the comments.

 

[LTC8K6]

Sounds bad, and costly. The starter is good, though. However, if they can make the whole pit lane run on battery power, then they can probably drive back to the pits on battery power if the engine won't start.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Err, good thing they included the starter button. How else would they restart the car when it leaves the pit lane?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

the smaller wings will save money because they're less likely to be hit and destroyed. the 8 speeds will save money because those are the only ratios available for the season, except for 2014's wild card. teams currently declare 30 ratios for use in an upcoming season.

 

[LTC8K6]

But they'll have to design and test all new wings and all new transmissions, and electric drives, and new starting systems, etc.

What about silent cars running down pit lane? Now we don't just need the warning horn, we need a device on the car to make noise so people can hear it coming on pit road.

I really hate micro-managing.

Just get a general set of specs, a good set of safety specs, and let teams build cars and run them...

Formula 1 is very expensive, that will never change.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/

Competition: ‘Spot the Brake Duct’ – Win a Haynes Red Bull Manual

Haynes Publishing have very kindly donated ScarbsF1 a copy of their ‘Red Bull Racing F1 Car workshop Manual’ as a prize. I’ve reviewed the Haynes Red Bull Manual here. As this is a technical blog and the RB6 manual is a technical book, I’ve devised a typically technical competition ’Spot the Brake Duct’.

It’s often said F1 cars are hard to tell apart from each other. I don’t believe this is true and especially this year each car is immediately identifiable from its rivals by several major features. In fact I am able to recognise each car purely by the design of its front brake ducts! So at my recent trip to the British GP at Silverstone, I took photos of the top five teams brake ducts. If you can detect which of these brake ducts belong to which team, you will be entered into the draw to win the Haynes Red Bull book.

All you have to do is workout which of pictures 1 to 5 below, relate the to the following teams. Then put the answers on an Email with the subject ’Haynes Red Bull’, by the end of Sunday 24th July. I will then pick a winner at random from the correct entries and announce it on Monday 25th July.

p.s. you can download the 2011 .pdf here:
http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite...r-Hands-On-A-Haynes-F1-Manual-021242954466912

 

[satyajitmenon]

What about silent cars running down pit lane? Now we don't just need the warning horn, we need a device on the car to make noise so people can hear it coming on pit road.

If you stick a horn in the car, drivers will use it to honk at slower cars getting in their way on the track.

 

[punjabiplaya]

that's a lot of changes, damn

 

[The Boston Dangler]

german grand prix us tv times (eastern) :

practice 1: 4 am, friday, speed.com
practice 2: 8 am, friday, speed
practice 3: 5 am, saturday, speed.com
qualifying: 8 am, saturday, speed
race: 12 pm???, sunday, fox

edit:
the last 2011 race on fox! yay!

 

[The Boston Dangler]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/07/21/2011-german-grand-prix-thursday-pictures/

 

[The Boston Dangler]

practice 1: alonso - webber
practice 2: webber - alonso

it looks like ferrari are now fighting for wins, and mclaren is really struggling

 

[punjabiplaya]

practice 1: alonso - webber
practice 2: webber - alonso

it looks like ferrari are now fighting for wins, and mclaren is really struggling

I never believe any practice times

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I never believe any practice times

oh no, practice times mean nothing unless you're the one practicing. i was speaking more generally

 

[LTC8K6]

Practice times are important, actually. They can come into play under certain circumstances. You may be very glad you were able to demonstrate a good lap time in practice.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

webber
hamilton
vettel
alonso

vettel qualifies off the front row for the first time. this one's going to be good!

 

[LTC8K6]

Did they short Hamilton on fuel again?

 

[LTC8K6]

Why is Button more than 1 second behind Hamilton?

 

[busydude]

Why is Button more than 1 second behind Hamilton?

He said he was having issues with not having grip at the front..

 

[LTC8K6]

He said he was having issues with not having grip at the front..

I know, but that's quite a difference in their lap times.

Button may be set up for rain.

 

[busydude]

Button may be set up for rain.

:hmm: that is a possibility.

 

[Atty]

How do you all watch the races in america? My Speed channel is only showing qualifying and has practice on now, no listing for the actual race.

 

[LTC8K6]

How do you all watch the races in america? My Speed channel is only showing qualifying and has practice on now, no listing for the actual race.

Fox has shown the last few races. This is the last one. Back to Speed for the rest. Fox shows a tape only, at noon here on the east coast.

 

[Atty]

How good is the coverage? Or should I find an online resource (any recommendations?)?

I just found the German grand prix listing for Fox, I must have skiped over it earlier. Thanks

 

[LTC8K6]

Fox is not very good since it's an edited recording. I don't know how you'd see it live. Speed is showing it again here Tuesday at noon.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Great drive by Hamilton. Vettel, has he lost the ability to race when not in front?