venkyhere wrote: ↑03 May 2024, 17:50
My claim comes from the simple theory that the car that spends the least fraction of it's laptime with steering not in a straight ahead position, is allowing for the most efficient acceleration and braking, since the sum of the durations when throttle or braking is onging whilst there is a slip angle on the tyres, is minimised. When to choose the 'moment' to release brake or apply throttle such that these two acts dont amplify the slip/slide -- that's the driver skill. A 'predicatable' non-nervous car inevitably spends more morsels of time 'waiting' before releasing brakes or before applying throttle.
I never claimed that cars are specifically built for drivers. I only claimed that the way to obtain closest to minimum theoretical laptime (which is unachievable) is by setting up the car's balance to "nervous rear" where it will make direction changes and restore no-slip condition in the least possible time. Only few can 'handle' such a car, because it's like trying to decipher a signal without removing noise. It's the driver skill that makes the rear look 'rock stable' to the cameras.
I get what you're saying from a theoretical standpoint, but I think practical reality just doesn't work that way. I mean, by your reasoning, F1 drivers should be trying to drive and setup these cars like rally cars, but clearly they just aren't suited for that, especially at lower speeds where such agile maneuvering would be most advantageous.
Especially not these current F1 cars which are long and heavy and drive comparatively like boats compared to cars of 15 years ago, not to mention the 1000hp under driver's feet that make getting on the power without a settled car quite precarious.
I mean, looking at Max's onboards, I cant say I notice any real preference towards a lively rear or 'nervous' setup or anything. And when the car does seem to have a lack of perfect balance, Max complains and wants it fixed if at all possible.
Maybe there's some AI that could be trained and made to perform with the reflexes and skill needed to drive one of these modern F1 cars in a more extreme loose manner that's advantageous to laptime? Cuz I'll say if Max Verstappen isn't capable of it, then no human is.
