Straight talk from Alonso day 2. tires, buttons etc | FerrariChat
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Straight talk from Alonso day 2. tires, buttons etc

Discussion in 'F1' started by Ferraripilot, Feb 2, 2011.

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  1. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
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    #1 Ferraripilot, Feb 2, 2011
    Zo makes a great point regarding all the buttons. A driver is busy concentrating about their line and it is difficult to think of things like, "do I need to hit kers now", or "what's my wing doing, do I need it now, should I use it with kers". This is going to make for a bit challenge and I believe a lot of practice is in order, more than they have scheduled anyway.

    Also, one set of tires for the entire morning? That's terrible. No team can really deduce what's going on with the tires with such arrangements. This first year with a new tire supplier should have double the mount of tires OR practices just to figure out what is required with them. Just my .02



    http://www.crash.net/f1/news/166347/1/alonso_says_new_regulations_a_challenge_reveals_pirelli_concerns.html





    Double F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has acknowledged that the sport's raft of new regulations for 2011 represents 'a challenge' – perhaps too much of one all in one go, he hints – and the Ferrari star has expressed some concerns about the rapid degradation and inconsistency of Pirelli's tyres.

    Having led the way during the morning, Alonso ultimately wound up just fifth-quickest on the opening day of pre-season group testing around Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo, some eight tenths of a second adrift of pace-setter and defending title-holder Sebastian Vettel – although on a more positive note, Ferrari's F150 scarcely missed a beat, which could not be said for all of the new contenders.

    The Spaniard subsequently stepped things up a notch to record the fastest lap of anyone on day two, and whilst professing it a successful couple of days in the cockpit, he conceded that there remains a lot to learn in terms of the tyres and steering wheel-operated KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) and adjustable rear wing – admitting that it is a lot to try to take in with such restricted time in the seat ahead of the Bahrain curtain-raiser.

    “The tyres degrade a lot, they are not very consistent at the moment and we are very limited in terms of the number of tyres as well,” the 29-year-old lamented, according to SPEED.com. “You have to keep one set of tyres for the whole morning, and then maybe put one [set] for half of the afternoon and one at the end. It's difficult to make set-up changes and to really get an answer at the moment on those.

    “These new buttons on the steering wheel are obviously not the easiest thing to use at the exit of corners. You lose concentration in your driving line or in your driving style, pure performance, but it's also something [with which] drivers who get used to the systems, and drivers who are trained more or are more clever on this can have an advantage.

    “With the new F1, you have to try to get used to it better than the others – it's a challenge for all of us to try to do better than our colleagues, and we started step-by-step. Some laps we activated the KERS, some other laps we activated the rear wing, and then we started doing everything at the same time and getting used to it. [By the first] afternoon, everything was coming out automatically, so I think it's good. Jerez will be enough to be completely confident with everything.”

    As to his own feeling at Ferrari twelve months on from his arrival at the legendary Scuderia, Alonso reflected that he is now far more settled at the Maranello-based outfit – and as such, from his rivals' perspective, far more dangerous to-boot, with F1 commercial rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone having opined that the 26-time grand prix-winner 'will not so easily accept defeat' as in 2010.

    “Obviously it's better this year,” he mused. “Last year it was really, really the first test, and a lot of excitement, a lot of emotions also, because it was [my] first time in a Ferrari. This year we approached the test in a better way, more relaxed – I know Ferrari, I know all the staff, I know also the programme for this test. We have two days; last year I only had one, so it was a lot of things to do in one day. This year we started more in a relaxed way and really focussed on the things we had to do. Last year was more like a demo than work!”
     
  2. HossB

    HossB Formula Junior

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    #2 HossB, Feb 2, 2011
    I agree with the tire statement completely. New suppliers should be able to provide teams more chances to drive on them. Without knowing how tires work during a GP, strategies are shot.
    I do not agree with the KERS and rear-wing adjustment. These drivers are at the pinnacle of the sport and this change is a requirement for ALL of them. Either keep up or go home.
    He's just whining; once he wins his first race he'll forget all about this statement.
     
  3. subirg

    subirg F1 Rookie

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    #3 subirg, Feb 2, 2011
    +1
     
  4. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
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    #4 Ferraripilot, Feb 2, 2011
    Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber both out pretty much agreeing with Alonso regarding the tires, specifically stating the following:

    “The new tyres are easy to get a feel for; there's not as much grip on the Pirellis as we had last year; they drop off quite a bit, too, and they're a little bit harder to control over a longer stint – but it's the same for everybody.”




    I believe the grip level is going to be a bit different for everyone depending on how much downforce they are running at the front end. Pirelli should learn and change up for this, but what's more interesting is the quali possibilities if nothing really changes between now and then. Q3 final laps will be on super-soft compounds which just don't last and one must wonder if the final Q3 laps may be buggered due to the tires falling off too quickly.
     
  5. Wolfgang5150

    Wolfgang5150 F1 Rookie

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    #5 Wolfgang5150, Feb 2, 2011
    Ive been very critical of Alonso's whining, but I agree with him. ( I brought this up in the Schu Sim trouble thread)
    There is way too much crap for any driver to think about while racing. Not sure what the solution is, but it's getting ridiculous....
     
  6. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
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    #6 Ferraripilot, Feb 2, 2011
    What this could do is allow tricky drivers in inferior cars who are good with the new controls be superior to drivers who may not be good with the buttons etc just yet. Interesting. This could also have a lot to do with the placement of the buttons and their convenience. Video game control pad companies think about this sort of stuff all day.
     
  7. fluque

    fluque Formula 3

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    #7 fluque, Feb 2, 2011
    Not too long ago F1 drivers were still shifting gears in and out of corners. How's that for a distraction?
    They'll get used to the buttons.
     
  8. poyta

    poyta Karting

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    #8 poyta, Feb 2, 2011
    Touche!
     
  9. Wolfgang5150

    Wolfgang5150 F1 Rookie

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    #9 Wolfgang5150, Feb 2, 2011
    And yet - those were the only two things.

    Here is what was on last year's steering wheel -WITHOUT Kers and the movable wing

    Starting from the top left and working our way down the wheel in columns:
    Buttons
    PIT LIMIT: The driver presses this coming up to the pit limiter line. The driver keeps the throttle pedal pressed the SECU controls the engine to keep the car speed at the pit limit target (100km/h for races). To slow down below the pit limit speed, the driver simply lifts off the throttle pedal.
    PC: This is a confirm button to let the engineers know that the driver has heard a request.
    TALK: This latches the radio on for 30 seconds or alternatively, the driver can press it again to turn the radio off. A red LED light illuminates while the radio is latched on.
    10 & -: This button has two functionalities. Firstly, we need to explain the functionality of the driver defaults. The driver can select a "driver default" from 1 to 77. These defaults are used to disable sensors, which are in error. When the MFS rotary is in the DEF position, the "10" button allows the driver to scroll through the decimal characters (10, 20, 30...70). When the MFS is in any position other than the DEF position, the "-" button allows the driver to scroll down the map number assigned to that MFS position.
    SC: When the safety car is deployed, a reference lap time (supplied by the FIA) is displayed on the dash. The driver must remain above this lap time to ensure he is not deemed to be driving too fast under the safety car. The SC button allows the driver to turn off this reference lap time once he has joined the train behind the safety car.
    DRINK: This simply gives the driver a drink.
    N: The neutral button. Used to select neutral.
    WING: When pressed, the wing moves to the target position set by the WING rotary. Only two changes are allowed per lap.
    ACK: This confirms any driver default change.
    1+: The "1" button changes the index numbers of the driver defaults. The "+" button scrolls up the maps selected by the MFS rotary.
    REV: This button selects reverse. There are several checks to prevent an accidental press of this button on-track!
    BPF: This button enables the Bite-Point-Finder(BPF). The BPF engages the clutch three times until the engine speed drops, allowing the bite point to be measured automatically.

    Rotaries (switches, dials, whatever you want to call them)
    ENTRY: This modifies the differential torque demand under braking (corner entry).
    MID: This modifies the differential torque demand as the driver comes off the brakes and into the corner apex (middle of the corner).
    EXIT: This modifies the differential torque demand as the driver goes on the throttle pedal exiting a corner (corner exit).
    CLUTCH: This modifies the clutch bite point.
    TORQUE: Allows the driver to select one of the five torque maps available in the SECU code.
    WING: The driver selects the target wing position from this rotary.
    MFS: MFS stands for Multi-Function Switch. With all the other rotaries, the map positions are selected by rotating the rotary switch. With the MFS, the driver turns the switch to the map he would like to modify, e.g. EOS (end of straight limiter). He can then modify that map using the "+" and "-" buttons to scroll up and down respectively.
    RPM: The driver selects the different engine mapping from this rotary. Maps vary from maximum performance, as used in qualifying, to fuel-saving as may be used while behind the safety car.
    TYRE: The driver must rotate this to match the tyre fitted. When an intermediate or wet tyre is selected, the rain light is turned on. The tyre circumference is also changed in the SECU to ensure the measured speed is accurate. Changing the tyre type can also modify the many control strategies, such as the speed of a gear shift and the torque map.

    Paddles:
    Almost hidden behind the wheel are the shift paddles and the clutch paddles. The upshift paddle is on the top right with the downshift paddle on the top left. Both clutch paddles are mapped identically.
     
  10. HossB

    HossB Formula Junior

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    #10 HossB, Feb 3, 2011
    Those are many controls for a steering wheel. But do you think F18 fighter jet pilots complain about having too many buttons in their cockpit?
    Drivers don't use all buttons on every lap. Now they will be forced to use 2 button on every lap. Meh. No problem for drivers making millions per year. I hit more buttons playing XBox (granted, I'm not pulling 3g's +)
     
  11. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
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    #11 Ferraripilot, Feb 3, 2011

    Fighter pilots do experience the same G load and greater, but their concentration requirements are very different and not at the level of, "if I don't make sure my driving line is just right, I may ruin my flying lap or go off the track". Totally different and unfair to compare the two, unless you are comparing the physical fitness required to do both, which is about the same.

    That and I can tell you fighter pilots do not have that much to control when in combat. Have a look any of the old Ayrton videos. Yes, he has to shift but he has no buttons on the wheel, and shifting does not require anyone to look down.
     
  12. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 TheMayor, Feb 3, 2011
    Fighter pilot's aren't under extreme tension for 2 hours. A battle may be like 10 minutes of high intensity G forces.

    It's amazing what F1 drivers can do lap after lap.
     
  13. subirg

    subirg F1 Rookie

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    #13 subirg, Feb 3, 2011
    Personally, I think the tyre degredation issue is more interesting than whether the driver can remember to use 2 new buttons (actually, 1 new button as KERS is not new). In the past, the drivers would simply bolt on fresh rubber and sprint as fast as possible to the next pit stop - leaving their engineers and race strategists to work out when they should come in. Now, with less predictable tyre performance, it looks like the drivers will have to take a more active interest in balancing ultimate speed with managing how quickly the tyres go off.

    With all these new variables in the equation the outcome of races could be much less predictable, and offer the smarter drivers more opportunity to shine.
     
  14. Tifosi15

    Tifosi15 Formula 3

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    #14 Tifosi15, Feb 3, 2011
    Good point
     
  15. DF1

    DF1 Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #15 DF1, Feb 3, 2011
    +1 which is why I posted that the tires might be the wildcard this year or at least for the first few races. Button pushing aside the tires will require the most adjustment for the drivers, engineers and team.
     
  16. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
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    #16 Ferraripilot, Feb 3, 2011
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2011


    That or Pireppi is going to reformulate a bit, although I don't see that helping all that much. They guys at Pirelli came out and said their tires are pretty much designed to fall apart after a little while. Really odd that a new supplier would make tires like this.
     
  17. Shorn355

    Shorn355 F1 Veteran
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    #17 Shorn355, Feb 3, 2011
    All the rules and gadgetry like KERS are sucking the life out of an awesome sport. These guys are all amazing and basically have fighter-pilot mentalities but they are forced to mess with too much stuff instead of DRIVING THE CAR!
     

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