Which year had most downforce?

[amouzouris]

This is my question....between the years 2004, 2008 and 2010...during which year had the cars the most downforce?? and do u know any figures?

[Hemsy]

I believe it was 2004 as there weren't that many aero restrictions back then. Also the lap records for most tracks is from that era. Sure they were running V10 engines back then but that effect was negated by running grooved tires instead of slicks.

[Lurk]

Not sure of that. 150HP more and 35kg less is a huge difference in term of lap time. it should be way more than 1s. Even with grooved tires vs slicks.

And remember lap records are taken from races, not for qualifiying. There was a little difference between Pole Position and race fastest lap at these days, compared to the 3-4 seconds of 2010-2011 caused by fuel load and tyre wear.

[ringo]

I'd say 2008.

[PlatinumZealot]

2008.

[N12ck]

2010 without a doubt,

the laptimes decreased in 2010 compared to 2008 generally, 2004 was mainly fast due to the engine being a 3Ltr V10.

So for downforce,I think 2010


and if you include 2011, 2011

[amouzouris]

2010 without a doubt,

the laptimes decreased in 2010 compared to 2008 generally, 2004 was mainly fast due to the engine being a 3Ltr V10.

So for downforce,I think 2010


and if you include 2011, 2011

2011 certainly doesnt have more downforce than 2010... manly due to the double diffuser ban...in the high downforce circuits 2010 is about a scond faster... and 2010 was faster than 2008 partly because all the cars are running low on fuel and because of the decreased drag...

[N12ck]

edited :deleted

[ringo]

2010 without a doubt,

the laptimes decreased in 2010 compared to 2008 generally, 2004 was mainly fast due to the engine being a 3Ltr V10.

So for downforce,I think 2010


and if you include 2011, 2011

2011 certainly doesnt have more downforce than 2010... manly due to the double diffuser ban...in the high downforce circuits 2010 is about a scond faster... and 2010 was faster than 2008 partly because all the cars are running low on fuel and because of the decreased drag...

Also becuase of slicks.

[HampusA]

2011 cars are some of the slowest F1 cars. The only thing keeping them "respectable"
is DRS KERS and Slicks in Q sessions.

Without DRS and KERS you could cut several seconds from laptimes.
But the downforce itself is probably comparable to 2010 right now.

I´d say 2004 did not have the most downforce, it wasn´t good at all to be honest.
It was the engines that would launch the cars out of corners with incredible speed.

08 was a really high DF year but i think 2010 is the year with most downforce and RB6 the car with the most.

[xpensive]

I'd say 2008.

I doubt it, think it must be 1980, the last year with full venturis and sliding shirts.

[Jersey Tom]

Bear in mind those years with lots of engine power... I'd say that typically means your drag budget goes up, and you can run more DF accordingly.

[xpensive]

Bear in mind those years with lots of engine power... I'd say that typically means your drag budget goes up, and you can run more DF accordingly.

That is also true, with the barn-door wings they ran, but the stories of drivers blacking-out with the venturi-cars?

[amouzouris]

1980 was certainly not the year with most downforce as i remember very well watching a video of Ross Brawn in 1994 i think and he was saying that cars now (1994) have as much downforce as the ground effect cars only with a lot more drag...

[Giblet]

The Lotus 78 had gobs of DF, and the 79 had double that.

I've read the Brabham fan car had yet another 25% more df, so that would be my guess as the car with the most df, also signalling the era.