F1 Transmission Shifting Characteristics

From a stop be gingerly and let the 1st gear engage prior to giving lots of revs. You will feel it engage. Then you are good to go.

 

Agreed, tap the throttle so the clutch engages then ease onto it

 

What does "without launching it" mean?

 

Ah, I see. That's what we used to do when drag racing a car with a slushbox. When drag racing a manual, depending on whether the car was horsepower-limited or traction-limited, we would rev to the torque peak and side-step the clutch.

Thank you for the explanation, sir.

 

These cars are not drag race cars and you will be replacing that clutch really fast if you do the drag launch much. As stated above, give it enough throttle to get the clutch engaged and then hammer down on it. That may be the single most important factor in having a long clutch life with an F1 system. I would be surprised if you didn't smell a lot of clutch when you did that launch. Neutral when pulling up to a light might make you feel better but I doubt it helps in the life of the clutch. While I do that in a true stick shift car, it is more about my leg and not wanting to just hold the petal down. I don't do that in F1 cars. That being said, I also feel there is zero down side to putting it in neutral as you come to a light, so if it makes you feel better, go right ahead. Just keep driving and enjoying the car.

 

Does anyone know what the "Launch" button on the 458 does vis-a-vis the clutch?

 

That car has wet clutches and other than the stress of a really hard launch, I see no reason not to enjoy it. It should have zero effect on clutches.

 

F430 is a different story. It will eat a lot of clutch material doing hard launches. Using LC or just your foot. I don't recommend it in 360s/430s.