2014 Gear ratios and Final Drives

[Juzh]

But would they ditch the first gear?
If there is to much torque on the wheel, why not make the first gear longer to make it useable and have more gears to accelerate faster?

Which is exactly what they would/will do.

[Boost]

I thought it was written on the Rules that a 1st gear is mandatory and is also mandatory to use it until 100 kph are reached. Is that true?

I can't imagine that. There is a rule though that says you can only shift once before reaching 80 km/h at the race start. Actually I don't know why this rule exists (why would anyone want to shift more than once before reaching 80?).

That was bought in to stop teams from using clever launch control strategies where the car would shift to 2nd and then back to 1st and then up again to minimise wheelspin.

[bonjon1979]

I thought it was written on the Rules that a 1st gear is mandatory and is also mandatory to use it until 100 kph are reached. Is that true?

I can't imagine that. There is a rule though that says you can only shift once before reaching 80 km/h at the race start. Actually I don't know why this rule exists (why would anyone want to shift more than once before reaching 80?).

That was bought in to stop teams from using clever launch control strategies where the car would shift to 2nd and then back to 1st and then up again to minimise wheelspin.

I think this rule has been done away with now, couldn't see it in the regs. Maybe it was something to do with kers?

[Pieoter]

9.8.2 of technical regulations.

One gear change is permitted after the race has started and before the car speed has reached 80km/h, provided every gear fitted to the car is capable of achieving at least 80km/h at 15,000rpm.


Is N to 1st a gear change or would a 1st into 2nd be the allowed gearchange?

[e30ernest]

9.8.2 of technical regulations.

One gear change is permitted after the race has started and before the car speed has reached 80km/h, provided every gear fitted to the car is capable of achieving at least 80km/h at 15,000rpm.


Is N to 1st a gear change or would a 1st into 2nd be the allowed gearchange?

Drivers change from neutral to 1st before the actual start don't they?

[myurr]

But would they ditch the first gear?
If there is to much torque on the wheel, why not make the first gear longer to make it useable and have more gears to accelerate faster?

Could it be that Mercedes has a problem with this years gearbox so is running with last years (unlikely due to the torque)? An interim solution using a modified version of last years gearbox whilst their new gearbox is fully finished (again unlikely)? Or is there a weight saving to be had by ditching one of the gears (they were the only team to vote against raising the weight limit of the cars)?

[Tommy Cookers]

when did an F1 car last do any engine braking ?
for the last several years they have been hot blowing or cold blowing
(the engine powering the KERS generation and the gasses helping the diffuser)
even in 2013 hot blowing was still allowed over 15000 rpm
the engine was and still is allowed to produce zero torque on lift-off (they ignore the engine power taken by the generator)

the engine powering the mgu-k generation is still possible
there is no rule or incentive against this except the smallish weight saving possible if some of the 100 kg is left in the pits
at any time and rpm the car can draw fuel at a permitted rate that is independent of the power useable by the driver
this (engine powered generation) is 85% as fuel-efficient as the conventional use of the ICE

[Mr.G]

Even if the rules require (I'm not sure) to have 8 gears, they can simply make one very week (to make it really light) and don't use it...

[autogyro]

when did an F1 car last do any engine braking ?
for the last several years they have been hot blowing or cold blowing
(the engine powering the KERS generation and the gasses helping the diffuser)
even in 2013 hot blowing was still allowed over 15000 rpm
the engine was and still is allowed to produce zero torque on lift-off (ie after the generator has been powered by the engine)

the engine powering the mgu-k generation is still possible
there is no rule or incentive against this except the smallish weight saving possible if some of the 100 kg is left in the pits
at any time and rpm the car can draw fuel at a permitted rate that is independent of the power useable by the driver

Hot and cold blowing of the diffuser using the ERS-K MG as a power source on the crank nose has in effect destroyed the initial development incentive for hybrid development in F1.
It has allowed aero to continue its domination and fixed the layout of the ERS-K/ERS-H power trains to suit aero at the expense of better more efficient and more world relevant technology.
The side effect has been to force fly by wire control systems into PT development that seriously reduce the application of driver skill and control.

[bonjon1979]

9.8.2 of technical regulations.

One gear change is permitted after the race has started and before the car speed has reached 80km/h, provided every gear fitted to the car is capable of achieving at least 80km/h at 15,000rpm.


Is N to 1st a gear change or would a 1st into 2nd be the allowed gearchange?

They're in 1st at the startline just with the clutch in,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu34Kw490Ws

The first gear change permitted would then be from 1st to 2nd or in Merc's case from 2nd to 3rd.

[Aesto]

AMuS asked Charlie Whiting whether it would be permitted to use only 7 gears, and he said it wouldn't be a problem.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 97594.html

[CBeck113]

AMuS asked Charlie Whiting whether it would be permitted to use only 7 gears, and he said it wouldn't be a problem.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 97594.html

Yeah, but using 7 gears doesn't change the fact that 8 must be present in the transmission.

[Aesto]

AMuS asked Charlie Whiting whether it would be permitted to use only 7 gears, and he said it wouldn't be a problem.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 97594.html

Yeah, but using 7 gears doesn't change the fact that 8 must be present in the transmission.

Yep, they didn't phrase the question clearly enough to make that out with certainty

[myurr]

Could it be that Mercedes are working on a specific launch system that they haven't publicly tested yet? Perhaps with 1 gear perfectly chosen for launch but the other 7 then being used subsequently during the race.

[Jaap]

Could it be that Mercedes are working on a specific launch system that they haven't publicly tested yet? Perhaps with 1 gear perfectly chosen for launch but the other 7 then being used subsequently during the race.

Isn't that how they allready used the 1st gear (except for monaco)? As far as I know, they only use the 1st gear for launches..