Driver styles/preferences

[mariano]

I found a very interesting page: http://www.f1db.com/forums/printthread.php?t=1189&pp=40

[godlameroso]

I think he meant to say that depending on the setup a car will understeer under braking whereas it won't if you merely lift off. Loading the fronts usually helps turn in, but like we discussed already, this effect only happens up to a point. Overloading the fronts does nothing to improve grip, and takes it away at the rear. Take turn one and two in Suzuka, in a F1 car, just the drag caused by lifting is enough to slow the car enough, you need only barely brake for the second turn, but here lies the trick to going fast through here. If you brake just enough(that is just barely enough to put some weight on the fronts, the car will tuck in to the apex of turn two and you can rocket out of there. In a car with less downforce, like the Super GT's, the drivers again barely brake into turn one just to make the car tuck into the apex, then the braking phase begins, but again just enough to slow the car down for turn two. If you started the full braking phase through the apex of the first turn you would most likely end up in the wall picking gravel out of your helmet.

[raymondu999]

While many here have said that you should never "roll" into the apex of a corner, it could be just me, but I get the impression that at Rascasse, Portier and Anthony Noghes, drivers tend to let their cars roll to the apex, and then pick up the throttle at about their apex.

[dren]

Vettel and Webber are huge question because the good balance of the redbull. There just hasn't been a time where you see them complaining about the car or mention correcting the behaviour of the car.

From my observations Alonso, Hamilton and Rosberg DEFINITELY can master cars of varying behaviour. I always look forward to their comments on the car behaviour and most of the time they always figure out how to set up the car to drive around the problems.

They can drive calm as Button: save tyres, save fuel, drive "wild:" overtake, drive understeer, drive oversteer, they even have that on demand speed burst in qualifying when ready. They are truly multiple style drivers.

Alonso IIRC likes an understeery car

Well he really liked the 2007 mclaren.. and Hamilton liked his setups in the first half of the season very much.

Have to agree. Rosberg gets overlooked a lot, but he certainly has looked promising the last few years.

[HampusA]

Yea Rosberg if any is the underdog in F1.
I can´t believe the bigger teams have given him the faith he needs.
He stood up for himself in karting against Lewis and is one damn fine driver.

Just sucks that we probably never will see his true potential in F1.

[raymondu999]

Ricciardo considers his own driving as having quite a bit of "finesse" and quite smooth, but he prefers a bit of oversteer than understeer. Would you not normally prefer rear-end stability with a smoother style? Kind of Jenson-style. (not to be confused with understeer)

[raymondu999]

Hey guys. Just something I found on YouTube, where we can see from the frontal view the respective steering inputs of Hamilton vs Button. What I found interesting is that Hamilton pulls the gearshift with a lot more force than Button, producing a louder "clack" sound
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StqJ40ro56g[/youtube]

[HampusA]

Usually you see a driver flick the paddle harder when it´s Qualifying.

It´s a psychological thing i do it aswell in simracing.

[Richard]

Drivers also have a personal preference for different switch gear. They'll have subtle variations on the switch arrangements.

[raymondu999]

I think he meant to say that depending on the setup a car will understeer under braking whereas it won't if you merely lift off.

While most people say that you should never be completely off throttle or brake; I've noticed lately that a lot of times; when a driver is entering a corner; or at least approaching the apex; he will lift brake and throttle completely; I guess to allow the fronts to just ue their grip for turn-in rather than using some of the frontal grip for braking. I've been wondering - could you not, in such a case, crank the brake bias rearwards while you're in the braking? i.e. lets say get the optimum braking for the straight bit; then when you're turning, if you're turning+braking, while you're still on the brakes, crank the lever rearwards? So changing the bias AS you brake?

[timbo]

So changing the bias AS you brake?

Imagine doing that right at the edge of the tyre grip doing several g's along the way.
Sure, drivers are superhumans, but still partially humans=)

BTW, that rear brake delay thingy discussed a lot during Ferrari/McLaren spy scandal was exactly that.

[Mr.S]

Vettel and Webber are huge question because the good balance of the redbull. There just hasn't been a time where you see them complaining about the car or mention correcting the behaviour of the car.

From my observations Alonso, Hamilton and Rosberg DEFINITELY can master cars of varying behaviour. I always look forward to their comments on the car behaviour and most of the time they always figure out how to set up the car to drive around the problems.

They can drive calm as Button: save tyres, save fuel, drive "wild:" overtake, drive understeer, drive oversteer, they even have that on demand speed burst in qualifying when ready. They are truly multiple style drivers.

Alonso IIRC likes an understeery car

Well he really liked the 2007 mclaren.. and Hamilton liked his setups in the first half of the season very much.

Have to agree. Rosberg gets overlooked a lot, but he certainly has looked promising the last few years.

Alonso maybe. Hamilton as calm as Button,saving fuel & looking after tyres. No chances. I think Hamilton does not really care about understeer or oversteer,strategu or nursing tyres. TO him it is about taking the car however it behaves & putting it to the limit every lap.

Rosberg is actually a bit over-rated. I think in many races Rosberg suffered more tyre wear than MSC who is considered quite harsh on tyres due to his style of driving. Alonso last year when Mercedes lengthened their wheelbase & made their car less understeery Rosberg struggled.

That does not mean Rosberg is not adapatble,I do think he can. But not to the extent people say. Hamilton does not even care about car behavious to be honest & is not about managing tyres & fuel.

Alonso is a wily character & can adapt for sure to anything. VERY in intelligent guy who will politicize if needed but very talented none the less

[SiLo]

Hey guys. Just something I found on YouTube, where we can see from the frontal view the respective steering inputs of Hamilton vs Button. What I found interesting is that Hamilton pulls the gearshift with a lot more force than Button, producing a louder "clack" sound
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StqJ40ro56g[/youtube]

That's very interesting to see how they visualise the lap. Even though Lewis was closer to his actual time, both of them were shifting at the same time, and using almost exactly the same amount of lock when going through the same turns. I wish we could see the whole grid do the same thing.

Also, as much fun as the racing has been this year, it still feels too artificial with the drs and the tyres going off so much. I did prefer it when everyone was just pushing the cars as much as possible. I think if they bring back refuelling, the tyres could stay, but drs would have to go. Still undecided on KERS because it's less of an advantage.

[PlatinumZealot]

Every body and their grandma can overtake with the DRS now. I was a supporter of it at the begining of the year, and I still support it because it allows the faster car to go by, but you just cannot ignore that it takes away the skill involved in overtakes. Oh, so does the Pirrelli tyres.

As for adapting to the car itself, Hamilton is one of the best. He doesn't need a good setup to go fast.

Now for adapting to the tyres. I think he can, it's just that his emotion gets the best of him and when he uses tyres he uses them to the maximum. Every ounce of grip and rubber is used. I mean, he did well in China and Germany two races were tyre management was most important for the win - the difference was, he was not emotionaly disturbed at those times. So I think a driver's style, even a civilian driver's style is heavily influenced by emotions.

[PlatinumZealot]

Hey guys. Just something I found on YouTube, where we can see from the frontal view the respective steering inputs of Hamilton vs Button. What I found interesting is that Hamilton pulls the gearshift with a lot more force than Button, producing a louder "clack" sound
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StqJ40ro56g[/youtube]

More force means more acceleration. Faster shifts.