Technology and F1

[Smurfer]

A number of questions.

Where do you believe F1 stands in terms of being at the leading edge of technology. The reason I ask is because I have thought that the top teams are pretty much as good as it gets.

Recently I have changed my tune based on:

- A comment that indicated F1 is a couple of years behind in terms of materials used when compared to the air craft industry. I caught the last part of this show and they may have been referring to only a part of the f1 car.

- Engineers not being paid that well. On this basis I wouldn't think they would subsequently attract the top people in their respective fields.

If NASA had a go, where would they sit on the grid? Next to Toyota maybe given their budget and success.

Where do you think or know it is at?

[ss_collins]

The impression I have is that F1 would be on a par with Mil-aero if it wasn't for certain restrictions in the technical regulations (like maximum stiffness for example). The stifling tech regulations mean that a lot of time, budget and energy is spent chasing quite irrelevant things (winglets for example).

The engineers are paid very well indeed as far as I know - more than at the likes of QinetiQ or BAE.

Skills wise motorsport is definatley one of the top if not the top engineering industry - however that will disappear gradually over the next few years.

An example is electrical connectors - some tams use the Souriau 8STA range which was originally developed for the Eurofighter, however motorsport had different demand so a new smaller composite connector was developed for F1 and MotoGP - now the Military want to use it.

One advantage motorsport has is that it does not have a time consuming certification process as the main military firms do.

[Rex Judicata]

Originally Posted by Smurfer

A number of questions. ... If NASA had a go, where would they sit on the grid?

Interesting question. The Shuttle's first flight was 1981, and the design work on the Shuttle dates into the 1970s. Imagine if today's F1 cars were limited to the technology of the late 1970s. Given adequate funding to design and built a new car, a NASA F1 car would lap at least 10% faster than anything yet seen. As they continued develop their car, the margin would increase, and the FIA would step in and begin outlawing their technology.

[Armco Bender]

Imagine if today's F1 cars were limited to the technology of the late 1970s.

Ground effects....turbos....the late '70s car could probably give todays ones a spanking

[ss_collins]

Under the current regulations the cars are the best they can be - liberalise those regs and I think the teams whilst some would struggle others would do brilliantly and prove that the likes of ESA, NASA, Lockheed, BAE and QinetiQ are too far behind on R&D.

[Rex Judicata]

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Ground effects....turbos....the late '70s car could probably give todays ones a spanking

Let's find out! Today's silhoutte type rules would outlaw most of the significant F1 cars over the history of racing. From the Mercedes W25, W125, W163, all of the Auto-Unions, the Vandwalls, the T-type Ferraris, etc. etc. etc. I would favor a return to the simple formula of 1935 - a 750 KG maximum weight (retain safety rules).

[BootsOntheSide]

70s cars are unlikely to be competitive against today's, but cars built to 70s regulations using todays computer technology and materials probably could be significantly faster. You'd have to add another 20 laps to the race lengths though, as the races would be over too quickly otherwise.

[Rex Judicata]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

70s cars are unlikely to be competitive against today's, but cars built to 70s regulations using todays computer technology and materials probably could be significantly faster. You'd have to add another 20 laps to the race lengths though, as the races would be over too quickly otherwise.

Boots - that is a critical distinction. Today's technology and the 1970s rules would create cars rather different from those built in the 1970s. The point about length is interesting too - IMHO today's races should have a miniumum of 2 hours, rather than a maximum.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Rex Judicata

IMHO today's races should have a miniumum of 2 hours, rather than a maximum.

Le 24 heures de Turkey.

[Rex Judicata]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Le 24 heures de Turkey.

You have such great ideas, Martyn. How about a new rule that prohibits turkeys in the race? How many would be excluded?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Le 24 heures de Turkey.

Hope they have enough fuel this time

[Rex Judicata]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Le 24 heures de Turkey.

Unless you have that turkey in a good cold-smoker, it'll come out much too dry. Alton Brown had a great show on exactly this topic.