Very cool article on the F1 steering wheels..... Why F1 steering wheels have over 20 buttons – and what they all do | F1 technology
Yeah, I have to agree that it is getting a bit ridiculous. I also think they could improve the racing by taking away all the diff controls. That would force each driver, or at least each team, to find a compromise setting. I assume all teams would not choose the same setting. This would cause each driver/team to have more variability, and thus hopefully less correlation in speed during a lap.
I am sure that there have been many aspects of F1 technology that have been applied to the common every day car. I have no problem with technology. The issue is driveing. I expect the F1 drivers to be the top of the sport in relationship their ability to drive a race car. That means turning, brakeing, shifting up or down, passing, etc. He is suppose to be in control of the car.
To me the issue presented by the complex steering wheel is that the drivers are having to manage too many things. I still see them as driving the car traditionally (gas, brake, steer) but they're both driving the car and managing and adjusting the car. That was ok when all they had to manage was a rare on-track brake bias adjustment forced by wear or changing track conditions and an occasional fuel mix change. Now they have things they can use to change those and other characteristics of the car throughout every lap. Somewhere there's a line beyond which driving starts to take a back seat to managing, where the ability to go fast, safely is compromised...and whether they've crossed that line already is a matter of opinion...an opinion voiced by many of the drivers this year. There are too many options to keep track of. You see all those things on the wheel explained in that article but just think of all the additional crap they can (and probably do) add via that Miltifunctional Rotary Switch (MFRS) dial! I think this is why the teams have lobbied for the ability to manage a lot of that stuff remotely, from the pit wall. These days a driver with excellent gas, brake, steer skills might not fare well in F1 if he hasn't also spent most of his off-track life with an X-Box controller in his hands. As far as KERS and DRS go, I personally throw them into the gas part of the gas, brake, steer category. Gas, brake and steer constantly, KERS sparingly and when most important, DRS whenever and wherever allowed, done. You'll notice I'm not judging whether they belong, I'm just saying they fit fairly simply into the normal driving part of the job. I think the complaints that they add complexity for the drivers are a bit off. They do, but I say the car management job was already too complex and KERS and DRS are just straws that break the camel's back. Take away some of the other adjustments (like Alan's diff setting AND MORE) and then the KERS and DRS arguments can focus on whether they belong on the cars at all. We've heard the argument that the only reason things like KERS and DRS are even thought of in the first place is the same aero a car depends on to stick it to the road on it's own on a clear track keeps it from being able to drive with the same sure-footed certainty in the aero-shadow of another car and therefore much more difficult to pass. You need more than speed and good brakes to get you into a good passing position, there's an aero uncertainty zone that keeps you from putting your car in that traditional position to pounce. The fact that the best drivers say "you just have to be more daring" is proof to many that it's not just skill but chance and that means added danger from moves even the best drivers can't fully control. Thus the need for "gimmicks" to help the drivers speed through that zone so they can pass "like they used to." I say forget all that crap. Instead of making new rules to overcome the unintended results of old rules, roll back the old rules. Then outlaw most of the things that cause today's aero-dependence so the development focus is on gas, brakes and steering aided by things that improve mechanical grip.
I agree with Steve, but in order to make F1 more relevant I think they should also go to a limit on fuel, similar to what they do now - maybe (pick a number) 20 gals of gas a race, then let them run any engine combination they want to get to the end first -turbo 4 cyl, na 12 cyl, rotary 9 cyl whatever they like - doesn't matter, just use the same gas for everyone - then let em race! And the transmission can be free as well, automatic 10 speed or manual 4 speed, 18 speed chain driven - whatever......their choice...... Then all the engine and transmission developments work towards attaining maximum efficiency while producing maximum speed, power and driveability. wouldn't that also translate to street driven cars? Also go to steel brakes and a nominal size on tires and wheels, no wider than what's common on the street - 8 " or whatever on a 17" wheel.
Seems there might be at least one benefit if Murdoch's take-over bid actually happens. I'm sure there are a lot more down sides but I thought this was worth a chuckle. I wonder if he's just making the statement or thinks this is a threat... Ecclestone: I’ll quit if Murdoch comes in (gpupdate.net)
If Murdoch or as the other rumor says - Dieter Madeashitloadofmoney buys it, I'm pretty sure Bernie would be retired anyway, whether he wanted to or not! C'mon, he's 80 years old and has half of all the money in the world - he can afford to join ol what's his name from Renault on their superyachts with their supermodel girlfriends....
....think Bernie would need a limit on how many times one sprinkler could be turned on...but that number should only be known by him and change every race....