Standardized Transmissions?

FIA are soliciting bids for standardized gearboxes....more stupidity....

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/141610/f1-teams-will-use-standard-gearbox-from-2021

 

10:45 The idea of Formula 1 switching to a common gearbox sounds good on paper, but to give the manufacturers until March 15 to tender is ridiculous because to do it properly and understand it takes far more time than that. It seems somebody doesn’t realise the scale of the job.

Setting that aside Haas, Alfa Romeo, Racing Point and Toro Rosso use gearboxes manufactured by someone else so there is something in it because not all teams make their own gearboxes. But it does take away some of the challenge of being an F1 team and we don’t want it to become a kit car formula.

If I was still a technical director, I would be arguing against this solution. Every team thinks their design is the bee’s knees and won’t want to give that up. And I can’t see this happening because of the time constraints.

Gary Anderson

 

Standardized gearboxes effectively means standardized rear suspension (if the casing is regulated also). Madness.

I don't really care all that much for gearbox internals but the casing should be absolutely free.

 

Hello spec-series LOL

 

"In order to retain competitor's own freedoms for suspension and for the gearbox aero surfaces, the outer housing will remain team specific (designed and produced by the competitor) with the common, self-contained gearbox cassette mounted inside."

 

For now......the steps for a spec series will come in increments.....

 

In that case, I don't mind it. In fact I'm quite for it.

 

I think all parts should have a fixed price, be free for any other f1 team to buy and be completely inter-changeable. This way customers could choose to have a ferrari engine, honda kers and mercedes gearbox at the same time if they wanted to for example.
No standard parts but standard interface IMO

 

Correct me if wrong! But isn't the gearbox internals simple straight cut gears with dogs doing the change? Similar to the way they been for years? Not including the diff. and power application to wheels.

 

Very special forged steels,
cut to impressive tolerances,
polished to near optical specifications,
heat treated to be though, hard, and durable,
run in on a dyno to perform breakin under optimal conditions,
and catch parts that cannot take the stress and strains of racing.

A decade ago, when one could change a gearbox every time the car left the garage, there were $50K of tranny internals that were throw away after each session. Now, in order to survive 5 track weekends, the internals are closer to $300K than 50K.

Luckily, they can still change the oil after each session.

 

New rules are crazy.

 

This is what happens when a mediot company acquires F1 as just another "property." If Brawn has had a hand in this that's a real disappointment.....

 

Yay...... more spec series ********....... just what F1 needs, dilution of what it stands for! Way to go Ross and Co. They’ll be mandating everyone runs the same chassis and bodywork soon, but you’ll be able to choose your own paint! Groovy

 

F1 calls off planned standard gearboxes move for 2021 cost saving -

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/143639/f1-calls-off-move-to-standard-gearboxes

Formula 1 has called off its expected switch to standard gearbox cassettes in 2021, following a World Motor Sport Council vote to retain freedom of gearbox supply in the championship.

F1 issued an invitation to tender for a single supplier for gearbox cassettes in February for its next technical regulations cycle from 2021-24.

It was known to have received four bidders for the gearbox supply deal, with specialist company Xtrac the only to publicly confirm its bid.

However, motorsport's governing body FIA has now announced that the WMSC has voted against choosing a single gearbox cassette supplier, acting upon the recommendation of the FIA technical department.

"The Council's decision was based on consideration of both technical and financial information made available by teams and suppliers," an FIA's statement read.

"The technical data provided revealed that gearbox technology in Formula 1 has largely converged and that, as a result, there is little performance differentiation at present.

"It was also noted that, due to the complexity of the components, gearboxes remain a sensitive matter in terms of reliability, and this was factored into the evaluations of the FIA technical department."

 

****ing hell, they made a sensible decision, something in the water there needs testing I think

 

I think you tell the barman to make it a double for them lol

 

Years ago, most of the field (bar Ferrari and BRM) used Hewland gearboxes, and nobody could find anything wrong with it.

Wait, most of the field (bar Ferrari and BRM) also used Cosworth engines and nobody could find anything wrong with it either.

It seems that F1 has developed an allergy to standardised components over the years.

 

I think in the past as you write - those were the best available and not the only one made standard by the governing organization.

 

Very true, but the "standardisation" of engins and gearboxes then didn't make the racing less exciting, far from it, and the teams were quite happy to share many components.

I cannot see why some standardisation is seen as "evil" by some people now, and resisted by some teams.

It would save a lot of money to the teams (many struggling financially apparently), and the show wouldn't suffer from it.

I don't think the spectators care what gearbox, brakes, pedals, wheels, driveshafts, dials and ECU the teams use.

They could even all use the same carbon chassis, and nobody would be wiser.

 

Nowadays, engines and gearboxes, and even suspension and some structural work, is dependent upon a flowing design, all parts working in symphony, some even acting with a dual purpose, so standardising the gearbox might impact upon the overall design, unlike when the cars were an amalgamation of individual parts thrown into a race car shell.