Sparks

[Sodemo]

I know the real main issue that everyone wants to talk about in 2015 which has been crucially overlooked... sparks.

In practice and quali quite a lot of cars were sparking when hitting the ground, but come race day, there was no such sparks. I thought they weren't allowed to adjust the ride heights between quali and the race?

Given that they shove in over 100kg of fuel for the race, i'd have thought that would make them hit the ground even more?

[S griffin]

I too enjoyed the site of sparks yesterday. Anyone who has seen Senna and Mansell in Spain would do.

[Down F0rce]

Melbourne isn't that bumpy, though. Bumpier tracks with more elevation change will hopefully kick up a few more.

[Greem]

Aren't a lot of the "sparks" actually autumn leaves from the surrounding trees? That's why there are so many more on Friday but less as the weekend goes on.

[johnh875]

At one point on the Aus telecast they mentioned that the sparking/ground contact was worse with the DRS open as it changed the pitch of the car at high speed, which makes sense and is used 'everywhere' in qually compared to the race.

There were some sparks being thrown in the race, I can remember particularly in the early laps one instance when Ricciardo took a narrow line defending from Raikkonen into turn 5 from memory with his car in the middle of the road ie where the crown is.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Greem

Aren't a lot of the "sparks" actually autumn leaves from the surrounding trees? That's why there are so many more on Friday but less as the weekend goes on.

Its too costly to replace a sacrificial titanium rubbing block during the weekend. The blocks have to last five races!

[karting]

Originally Posted by johnh875

At one point on the Aus telecast they mentioned that the sparking/ground contact was worse with the DRS open as it changed the pitch of the car at high speed, which makes sense and is used 'everywhere' in qually compared to the race.

There were some sparks being thrown in the race, I can remember particularly in the early laps one instance when Ricciardo took a narrow line defending from Raikkonen into turn 5 from memory with his car in the middle of the road ie where the crown is.

I believe the rules changed last year, that said they could only use DRS in the DRS zones even in Qual and Free Practise

[TrapezeArtist]

What imbecile thought that a few sparks coming out of the back of the cars would improve the "show"? (Rhetorical question: I think I know the answer.)

No has ever suggested (to my knowledge) that a firework display would be improved by the presence of some racing cars.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

What imbecile thought that a few sparks coming out of the back of the cars would improve the "show"

Part of me thinks that a car with some sparks being thrown up may attract the attention of someone surfing through a number of TV channels, plus to the casual viewer it is a nice way of demonstrating the forces an F1 car operates under. To the enthusiast who watches the bulk of the action, I'd agree that it will make no real difference.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by kipper

Part of me thinks that a car with some sparks being thrown up may attract the attention of someone surfing through a number of TV channels, plus to the casual viewer it is a nice way of demonstrating the forces an F1 car operates under. To the enthusiast who watches the bulk of the action, I'd agree that it will make no real difference.

Casual viewer?????

Maybe if he is paying through the nose for Bernie's beloved pay TV channels.

[marc sproule]

they told us that titanium skid blocks are mandated this year.

no mention of how many races they have to last.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Selby

[chillibowl]

i think Greem said it earlier, and for sure i see it in this picture, but it does mainly look like sunlight reflecting off of brown leaves.

[stripedcat]

I suppose that it's nice to see. Like was mentioned earlier - if you think back to the 1980s and early 1990s in F1 and remember it, then it looked exciting. It does sort of give the viewer more of an idea of the pressures and strains that are being put on to an F1 car. Much like, when there is wet weather and we get to see "rooster tales" or slightly damp conditions and you get to see the vortices over the cars.

[Sodemo]

I used to like seeing sparks in the 80s and 90s because it showed how low a car was running to the ground and how extreme they had been on car setup.