2014 cars will be tough to drive - Jenson Button | McLaren | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1 Jenson Button is expecting the 2014 cars to be more difficult to drive due to increased torque and less downforce - a prospect that he does not find exciting. The new engines will be fitted with fuel flow restrictors and lower rev limiters, but will still produce a similar level of power when combined with the energy recovery boost systems. However, they will also produce significantly more torque, which is set to increase the chances of wheelspin at low revs and make the cars more of a handful. Button has driven McLaren's 2014 car in the team's simulator, and while he believes such work will be important, he said drivers will only really know what they are up against when the cars hit the track in January. "It's about getting an understanding of the power unit and how we are going to put the power down, because it's not going to be easy. There's going to be a lot of simulator work and running through other things that are going to help us put the power down, because I don't think any of us are used to having torque. I've raced for 14 years in F1 and I've never had torque so it's going to be a new experience.
Mmmmm........ Sounds to Me as though Jenson is already laying the foundations to explain another poor season before it's anywhere near starting!
I would say he is merely noting a somewhat major change to driving style that could be required to manage the car/power with the new configurations.
+1 Having said that, I've pretty much always been under the impression they can spin their wheels at will. (Nowadays, referred to as 'traction events' of course....) If they're even close to the beasts of the original turbo era though, with an 'on/off' switch rather than a pedal, it should be a whole lot of fun to watch. OTOH, Fpiloto seems to be claiming they'll be 'tamed' with fancy maps. In any event, I'd have thought Jenson, as one of the 'smoother' guys would be in good shape. Along with my man Ice of course. Cheers, Ian
More torque, less downforce. Well, maybe we will a return of driving skills as the main reason for success, instead of clever aerodynamics. But I won't hold my breath...
More torque and less downforce is BAD? IMO, it's great. It's time the cars were more challenging to drive by the seat of your pants.
Nah, sand/gravel traps if you want to really make them pay or extended return routes if you just want to get their attention.
Alonso and Massa also reported that the 2014 cars were more difficult to drive on the Ferrari simulator. Massa's comments included "it's like driving in the rain"... if true, woe is Williams next year! We all know how well Massa does in the wet.
Didn't Bernie have this crazy idea of random water sprinklers on the track? If you want a track that punishes "offs", all you have to do it look at Monaco. Increased torque out of the corners or when passing will really help there. Downforce isn't such a big deal.
No worries! - I've been on Fchat's F1 section long enough to know that there are plenty who would make a similar statement to Mine and actually mean it! (Cue Jenson to have another poor season next year and say: "See! - Told you I'd struggle with these new cars!" )
First you need to get the FIA to set some sort of official standard as to what determines when a car is off the track! At the moment, they seem to change the "car off track" definition from circuit to circuit!
Why bother painting the lines in the first place? Tracks are built with large safety margins for good reasons. Any driver worth his salt will take any advantage given. It's up to the authorities to enforce the rules. If they are unable or unwilling to do so the tracks need to be reconfigured to take the advantage of going off course away. As long as there are grey areas there will be disputed rulings. If a driver has to pay for excursions in real time there's no need for rulings nor for post hoc penalties.
The funniest thing to Me is that the drivers argue that they have to go over the lines at certain corners on certain tracks because of the speeds that they are travelling at and so the FIA allow it. My thinking is though, if you can't get through the corner without going over the whites (even with two wheels), then you're going through the corner too fast and need to slow down a bit! - It's not exactly rocket science, and these are supposed to be the best drivers in the World!
Asking a driver to go slower is anathema. If he can get away with it without cost he will. Hence the need for track configurations that exact a penalty for offs.
I totally agree! - I just find it funny how the FIA happily accepts the drivers excuse for "running wide" through certain corners and lets them get away with it! I think the best bet is to have "Stingers" at the edge of the track to induce a slow puncture if you venture too far out, that should do the trick nicely!
While it appeals to my inner James Bond that's a bit contrived. high curbs do achieve much the same effect.
