The transmission I consulted with Ferrari on was NOT a seamless transmission it was the layshaft automatic used by Nigel Mansel.flynfrog wrote:Maybe you should write a strongly worded letter to the FIA with all of the brilliant points you have posted in this thread. Make sure to tell them how you invented Ferrari's seamless shift transmission and you were good friends with Colin Chapman.autogyro wrote:Data from the clutch operation is sent via telemetry. The engineers 'crunch' this data and the driver is informed by radio the clutch settings to use.
This is done with other systems within the regulations but I have been unable to find a loophole in the regs to allow this for the clutch.
IMO this allows the driver to select a point on the clutch operating movement and is against the regulations.
The gearboxes I worked on for Lotus where mainly bevel epicyclic gearboxes and hydaulic diffs, also NOT seamless.
The term is simply a marketing gimmick.
I do not believe that the FIA will change things as they are, because there is no other way to ensure a high percentage of off line clutch starts and any reversion to the 'proper' regulations would seriously penalise the engine manufacturers.
F1 is firmly snagged in vested interest and it remains to be seen if any new regs will save its future.