What were the fastest years in Formula 1?

Even with all the restrictions lap times continually fall with each passing year at some/most tracks. The latter turbo era and then the inception of the V10's and V12's are my most beloved era's for power and speed.

 

The small 2.4L V8s are now faster than the last of the V10s.

 

If you judge this in terms of lap times, then the fastest year was 2004. Many of the lap records set that year still hold to this day.

 

+1 on 2004.

However, and this was before even my time (!), some of cars built around WW2 were faster in a straight line eek Monster power, zero understanding of aero, skinny tires and crap brakes!..... I believe they sometimes topped out at almost 250MPH!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Are you serious? Man I learn something new from you everyday. That must have taken 200% balls of steel and being absolutely crazy. I always thought 2004 was the fastest (with some track times being quicker in recent years). I guess it's mostly due to aero now and the mechanical grip from the slicks??

 

2004, then 2002 i think...

 

Yes, pre WW2 Both Auto Union and Mercedes had cars capable of 240+ MPH and many of the speed records made then stood till the 1960's.

in those days not only would the cars have upwards of 500+ HP, but no aero, drum brakes, and tires with tubes in them... skinny tires and solid axles.

I think 2002 - 2004 were the highest speed years... however pure fastest times I would go back to 1992-1994.

 

Remember than Rosberg's lap speed of 160+ at Silverstone stood until Montoya broke it in '05-'06? And that was in the early '80's.

 

Was working inside Silverstone in '80. Brabham showed up with a BT49 and Piquet for a little testing. We tried to drive over the bridge into the pits for a look-see and were refused by some Bernie Goons; "Not today" they said. Undeterred, we drove out to Stowe & Club and I swear he was not lifting thru either turn! It was so fast it was scary - and this from a bunch of hardened race car mechanics..... I remember us saying at the time that if a skirt stuck he wouldn't stop until he reached the school!

Ground effects got insane towards the end - Look at the tiny little wings on it - They even ran it without any front wing on occasion.

Cheers,
Ian
PS; Joe, thanks for the compliment
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Well cheers to you et. al who have given this young guy quite the education

And to think, if a modern F1 car loses its front wing, it almost always ends in tears.

 

As far as corner speed is concerned, now. Current aerodynamics are currently better than anything the sport has seen.

Straight line speed and overall speed goes to 2004.

Engine power wise? I believe the Renault RE60 turbo engine and the BMW megatron hold the titles for 'most powerful F1 engine ever'. It's definitely a toss-up between those two

 

We beg to differ on this; Ground effects with skirts produced *huge* amounts of downforce without (as much of) the drag we see today - No front wing!.....

Throw in active suspension to keep it all at the perfect ride height and attitude and they were way ahead of where they are today.

Cheers,
Ian

 

I always thought the Turbo cars of the late 80's were the fastest as far as top speed goes. Didn't know about the classic 250mph cars.

 

Even with full venturis and sliding skirts, no. 2008 and 2004 are it which I define is 'the cars now'. Last year's RB is also pretty close up there too.

 

I remember Imola in 85 and watching a black haze out the back of Piquet's Brabham-BMW as he flew by me during qualifying and thinking that I'd never seen such power and speed in a F1 (Grand Prix) car. When one has an engine that hand grenades after 4 laps I guess power and speed are what its all about......sure left a lasting impression on me.

 

Different circuit layout I think.

 

As I said, we beg to differ.

+1

They've ****ed with Silverstone so much over the years it's impossible to compare. It was the fastest for a while, but then they changed it again......

Cheers,
Ian

 

FWIW, here's what the circuit looked like back then - He did not lift thru Stowe & Club!

They're not the same corners today, but they're not going flat thru the same style of turn IMO.

Cheers,
Ian
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2004 followed by 87-88.

 

2004 is unquestionably the fastest year in terms of laptimes

 

Can you imagine if you combined all the (banned) innovations onto todays cars?

Same basic front/rear wings, KERS and DRS...but full venturi tunnels, skirts, active suspension, V10's or even the megatron engines.

 

They'd be un-drivable without G-suits! I think they'd also tweak how the ground effects works to make it adjustable (Moveable aero!) and pretty much eliminate wings as we know 'em.

Unfortunately, it would require new tracks with even bigger runoff areas and so on.

I reckon they continue to get it "about right"; They're the fastest things around a road course and as long as that continues I'm happy(ish) Even with my high pants on.....

Cheers,
Ian