Traffic awareness for the F1 transmission...

Pulling both paddles forces the F1 into Neutral, no?

 

I don't think there is a problem to be fixed here. The F-1 transmission works quite well in traffic and I personally have not seen any accelerated consumption of my F-1 clutch over my 5 speed F-car. The decision of which transmission is a personal preference. Ferrari has recognized this and addressed it by offering both styles.

 

get the car rolling with the starter motor before the clutch engages would be the best way to preserve the clutch. Hybrid Ferrari using Saturn technology. Flame on!!!

 

I agree that the F-1 was very clunky in the the F355, less so but still clunky in the F360 but by the time it got to the 575M and for sure the F430 it had evolved into a doggone great system IF you are looking for a paddle shifter. I guess Ferrari could have gone the Porsche Tip or BMW SMG semi-auto I-don't-know-what-I-am shifter route but quite honestly they are nothing but watered-down automatics. At least Ferrari's later paddle shifting system gives one great performance with the convenience of no left pedal. And I don't believe it is at the expense of the clutch at least in civilized driving - can't say for track and for the guy who wants to over rev the engine and burn out the tires all the time.

My point is that is it a damn good system that continues to improve. It isn't for everyone but it sure makes city driving quite bearable for those folks who don't care to shift around town.

 

I remember that old Walter Mathau movie where he was herding that old V-12 through traffic, clouds of oil smoke wafting out the back. Car in the shop, carbon on the valves, carbon on the valves. You cant lug that thing around in heavy traffic and expect it to perform well when you open her up on the entrance ramp. Was cool though to see him tromp on it in an opening and once she cleared out, gave a good howl as she cleaned her plugs. But sadly it was back on the brakes to crawl 20 mph in heavy traffic. How sad.

I imagine the F1 gearbox, at least initially, was built as a real F1 driving machine. The 355 SEGA game had the car out on differing race tracks, and everyone said it was pretty realistic. Forcing that high stepping race horse to stroll through a crowd of people in low gear is kind of out of place for what it was built to do. I bet the guys who stay out of traffic and dont make it slip have no real clutch trouble? The only reason to drive around in traffic on any regualr basis is only to be seen IMHO. The reason to stay out of the city and drive it like ya stole it is because you like to drive as it was intended. Just because it costs so much does not mean it was built to be a multi purpose vehicle. I bet if it was 4 wheel drive someone would drive it down a logging trail and then complain when it ultimately got stuck. Me thinks some expect to much? Nope, I see no fairlead on the nose. Curb feelers might be in order for some of ya'll though. Just kidding a bit.

 

I do worry about clutch burnout in traffic conditions. Unfortunately I live and work in the same town, and do enjoy driving it as much as possible (not to be seen BTW) but rather because it's my dream car. So I have to deal with stop lights...

Fortunately if you understand how the F1 works you can adjust technique to minimize clutch wear. When crawling either in 1st or R the clutch is slipping, so try to avoid that. In stop and go, leave a gap then get on the gas. If you have to crawl downhill, let it roll in N. It's all worth it for the 100 mile ride I had on Tues, blasting up and down through the gears on twisty up and downhills on heavily wooded streets...pure heaven! (yes, had to pay my dues with some stop and go to get there though )