Formula 1 For Dummies

[springbulb81]

I have watched F1 since 2007 when Hamilton burst onto the world stage and have really enjoyed watching the different drivers dominating
and seeing the rule changes etc

One thing I need explaining is how one team/driver dominates due to the speed of the car. Mclaren had a great car a few years ago getting wins and podiums all the time. Now they struggle to even get a podium.

Surely the mechanics realize their car is slower than the redbull (not that Vettel isn't a fantastic driver) but why don't they engineer to be compete like they did a few years ago? Same with Ferrari

How are Red bull able to make their car so much faster than any other team to dominate every race??! What's changed?

Put Vettel in a lotus or Mcalren and he wouldn't be able to compete because the car is too slow. I get point that F1 is all about the constructors competing against each other too but why don't the other teams make their cars better in order to compete?

Or is it a case that the Red Bull engineers are just better and know how to make a car much faster? I struggle to believe that

[Mattk]

F1 car designs are regulated incredibly tightly but some teams find small exploits within the allowable criteria that allow them to be faster. I believe Red Bulls dominance is mainly down to its diffuser which allows them to put the power down earlier than other cars. It is all very cutting edge stuff which is why some teams take longer to develop the equivalent tech.
Next year should be more even due to sweeping rule changes.

[kawakiri]

AdRian Newey is the answer.

[jomifl]

Quite kawa, wasn't it when Adrian Newey was designing for McClaren that they were unbeatable. I don't think there is that much between the top ten drivers, the reason that Vettel usually beats Webber is because Webber gets the 2nd quality car and the backup strategy. If it does work better for Webber he has to give way to Vettel anyway. Adrian Newey seems to keep finding loopholes in the rules, so every time they change the rules they provide a new set of loopholes.

[kawakiri]

Here is someone else who credits Newey with the Red Bull dominance.
http://www.portalf1.com/en/articles/your-articles/should-newey-be-banned/

[Prudie]

My F1 for dummies question is what the hell is DRS and why do the commentators bang on about it?

[kawakiri]

At least he is British.

[kawakiri]

Drag Reduction System.

[jomifl]

Prudie, DRS is to with that 'wing' at the back of the car. It helps cars corner faster but is an impedence on the straights. DRS is when the angle of the wing is altered to enable the car to go faster on the straights. This is only allowed at one or two stretches of track and enables cars that are a bit faster than the car in front( but not fast enough to overtake on the straight) to overtake withhout having to fight for room at the approaching bend.

[Prudie]

Thank you jomifl, so I suppose it is a deal when it can be used.

[ToraToraTora]

"why don't the other teams make their cars better in order to compete?" - do you rally imagine that they haven't thought of doing that? The gap between the best and worse is tiny, the gap between the top cars is infinitesimal. They teams work constantly for an edge. The geniuses are guys like Brawn and Newey. They are searching for hundredths of a second per lap. If the drivers all drove the best car you would find very little between them the car makes a huge difference and all the teams are working for the tiniest of tolerances within a very strict set of rules. It's incredibly naive to think that any of the teams are not trying their utmost.

[kawakiri]

Not sure if i have all this correct but designer wise from 1992-2013
1992-94 Newey
1995 Byrne
1996-1998 Newey
1999-2004 Byrne
2005-2006 Bell
2007 Costa/Tombazis
2008 Fry/Tombazis/Byrne
2009 Fry/Brawn
2010-2013 Newey

[kawakiri]

Top 10 F1 designrs.
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/06/15/ten-great-formula-1-designers/
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/06/18/top-ten-greatest-formula-1-designers-part/

[Mattk]

"DRS is when the angle of the wing is altered to enable the car to go faster"

Not strictly true as DRS is when the rear ring is opened to let air pas straight thru.
Wing angles are altered to suit the circuit e.g. tight twisty circuits (Monaco) have high wing to maximise grip as there is no real speed advantage to be had and fast circuits (Monza) have shallow wing to allow maximum straight-line speed.

[jomifl]

Mattk, please do tell how the wing is opened without altering the angle.

[springbulb81]

ToraToraTora,

Of course I understand that every team is trying their hardest and naive is completely the wrong word in that context.

The point I'm making is how are Red Bull able to engineer their car to be SO much better than the rest? The engineers in the other teams must have similar knowledge and access to technology to make their car more competitive. As I said before, Vettel is good but not that good.

[springbulb81]

And the "gap" between the best and the worse isn't tiny it's huge. If you really believe that then I'm afraid it's you that is actually naive.

[ToraToraTora]

sorry I cannot find a way to communicate how wrong you are.

[springbulb81]

Forgive me Tora, I've just realized how much of a coincidence it is that RedBull wins every race.

Apologies

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Springy........the points gap may be huge...because the winner gets 25 points and the loser gets zero.....however the gap between the top teams is minimal.
The reason for the Red Bull domination is simply that they are the very best galvanised team on the grid.
I agree if you put Vettel in a Lotus he may not win...because that car is not built to his preferences...but conversely if you put Alonso in Sebs RB9 he would'nt beat Webber.