5 ms·

I am surprised that there are not more F1 fans here on HN. It is the best sport to follow if you are a techie or geek - there is so much advanced technology inv

by nikcub 15y ago

I am surprised that there are not more F1 fans here on HN. It is the best sport to follow if you are a techie or geek - there is so much advanced technology involved in the cars and racing that make what happens off the track and in development just as exciting as the actual races. These guys are on the cutting edge in a number of fields: materials science, aerodynamics, computer aided design (there is a car this year that was designed and tested all in software with no wind-tunnel), energy recovery systems, fuel performance, tyre compounds, telemetry, computing power and machine learning with strategy, etc. etc. etc.

there 15y ago
i am partial to ALMS currently. less restrictions, more creativity for car design and strategy, widely varying cars on the track at the same time (traffic creates passing opportunities/blocking), and the planning and strategy involved in winning (or just finishing) 12- and 24-hour endurance races.
dchest 15y ago
Here's a video about the all-CFD car and their simulator (from last year): http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/09/video-behind-the-scenes-at-virgin-racing-nick-wirth-interview/ http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/09/video-behind-the-scene...
mtw 15y ago
I'd be more interested if they do an electric cars race, that's the future, and that's where need most innovation.
- Arjuna 15y ago
  While there are currently no fully-electric racecars in F1, some teams are attempting to innovate in the area of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). According to the current F1 sporting regulations, teams have the option of implementing KERS via electrical or mechanical means. http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/8763.html http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/87...
  - dotBen 15y ago
    This year all teams are supposed to have it. Williams, who experimented with a fly-wheel design two years ago, switched to electrical system this year - which means all teams that use KERS now have battery-orientated systems.
    - Arjuna 15y ago
      Just to provide clarification, KERS is optional for the 2011 F1 season. According to http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/8763.html http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/87... (Under the "Do teams have to use it?" question): "The use of KERS is not compulsory." According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F1_2011#Rule_changes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F1_2011#Rule_changes : "KERS units will be optional for all teams, after not being utilized in 2010 following a team agreement banning the devices [...]" If a team does decide to deploy a KERS package, these are the technical implementation details that must be followed: http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/technical_regulations/8699/fia.html http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/tech...
- suking 15y ago
  Maybe San Francisco can host the world's first Prius Grand Prix - that would be real fun!
Mc_Big_G 15y ago
Rabid F1 fan here. What do you think about the introduction of DRS? (DRS is a "drag reduction system" which allows drivers to move the rear wing to reduce drag when passing.) I like that it's making the race more exciting with more passing, but it doesn't really seem like a fair race at the end. For example, a driver could lead the whole race and then get passed in the last lap due to the unfair advantage of the DRS.
- LokiSnake 15y ago
  I don't think the last race did the DRS right, but the first few races used the DRS better. The point is the DRS should bring a driver almost along side, so if you have the advantage in terms of grip, you'd be able to pass. Before the DRS, you can be catching a car 1+ seconds a lap, but can't get close enough because you start hitting the turbulent air from the car in front. The whole point is to get rid of this problem without making passing too easy.
- davej 15y ago
  Not really, the car behind still needs to get in the one second window to have the advantage of DRS. They still need to tweak it so that passing isn't too easy but thats just a case of trial and error, they'll get it right eventually. If you compare this with last year (and particularly 2009) when cars could be up to three seconds a lap faster but still not be able to pass the car in front, it was obvious that something needed to be done.
- kylec 15y ago
  I know this will probably sound heretical, but I think that there's no such thing as an "unfair advantage". If we really wanted to see technical innovation in F1, there would be virtually no restrictions on the cars - just some basic safety stuff for the drivers.
  - hristov 15y ago
    But the DRS does have a lot of rules which may deem it unfair. For example, if one car is leading and another following, the following car is allowed to use DRS, but the leading car isn't.
rmason 15y ago
I've been a huge fan of Formula 1 since the sixties. As a young boy in Detroit I would call the Detroit News sports desk to have them read the results off the news wire to me to see who won. Otherwise I'd have to wait a week for the magazines to come from Europe. Sure makes you appreciate real time information!
eru 15y ago
The problem with F1: It's boring.
- adhipg 15y ago
  Have you seen any race of this season? There has been more overtaking than MotoGP!
- rjrodger 15y ago
  You don't watch it for the racing, you watch it for the strategy. That's why Murray Walker was the best all-time F1 commentator - it was the way he explained the strategies.
  - eru 15y ago
    I guess that could make it enjoyable. I even enjoyed watching football (i.e. soccer) when I did so with a knowledgeable friend.
dotBen 15y ago
I was going to say the exact same thing. This is nothing like NASCAR, or even rival open-wheel racing like Indie Car. The amount of cloud computing the teams use is staggering too - during race weekends they'll compute the model of changing every potential setting on the car (physical, mechanical, software) and then play out the race to work out the impact. As the race weekend progresses they'll continue to lock down setting and begin to extrapolate to the permutations of every rival car in order to work out strategies. Even during the race its not just the team's two cars and some guys on the pit wall... McLaren, perhaps the most technically advanced team in F1, has a whole "Space launch style" mission control room back in the UK where 10+ people monitor every piece of data from the car and works out strategic changes on the fly by feeding the data in the computer models.
- akronim 15y ago
  Which explains how McLaren's strategy calls can vary between brilliance - when the models get it right - and stupefyingly bizarre when the simulation diverges from reality.
  - suking 15y ago
    It also depends how much they steal from Ferrari during the current year as well :-).
mark_h 15y ago
I am absolutely a fan of the technology, but much less so of the sport. I suppose my issue/question is: how do you enjoy all that just watching it on TV? (This is actually a serious question; are there for example real-time websites that give you an information overlay on what's happening, or do you just enjoy watching knowing how complicated it is underneath the surface?) Sorry, on re-reading you do talk about off-track being just as exciting; so I suppose I'd rephrase the question as: where do you follow all this information?
- nikcub 15y ago
  the watching on TV is only part of it - I follow websites and blogs, the team sites, etc. and good TV coverage will spend the saturday talking about tech, strategy etc.
- rakkhi 15y ago
  I do both. Enjoy just watching it but also follow on an iPad app that provides a lot of detail. Its actually really exciting this year with the DRS (http://www.ozracingwrap.com.au/news/formula-1/2537-the-f1-movable-rear-wing-drag-reduction-system-explained.html http://www.ozracingwrap.com.au/news/formula-1/2537-the-f1-mo...). A lot passing and attempted passing. I couldn't move from the Turkey GP and Webber's drive from 18th to Podium in China was awesome. You do need to like cars and speed to get into it but as the lights countdown for the takeoff my heart definitely beats faster. Being friends with a Renault wind tunnel model designer and former F3 driver helps also :)
- liedra 15y ago
  I really like f1fanatic.co.uk for pretty good analysis and updates (and, of course, gossip and drama! :). There is a pretty good forum on there for people to chat too, and it has a lot of very knowledgeable people who hang around. ... I just realised that this article was on f1fanatic, DUH. But yeah, it's definitely the best site I've seen for F1 news.
nl 15y ago
If anyone is interested, McLaren is looking for an embedded software engineer: http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Jobs/ http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Jobs/ ("Embedded C Software Engineer - Engine Control - Data Acquisition") My friend works there and loves it. It's in Surrey, England (in this place: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/england/mclaren_technology_centre.htm http://www.e-architect.co.uk/england/mclaren_technology_cent...)
nazgulnarsil 15y ago
F1 is too much a parade. Give me prototype moto racing any day.

by nikcub 15y ago

there 15y ago

i am partial to ALMS currently. less restrictions, more creativity for car design and strategy, widely varying cars on the track at the same time (traffic creates passing opportunities/blocking), and the planning and strategy involved in winning (or just finishing) 12- and 24-hour endurance races.

dchest 15y ago

Here's a video about the all-CFD car and their simulator (from last year): http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/09/video-behind-the-scenes-at-virgin-racing-nick-wirth-interview/ http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/09/video-behind-the-scene...

mtw 15y ago

I'd be more interested if they do an electric cars race, that's the future, and that's where need most innovation.

Arjuna 15y ago
While there are currently no fully-electric racecars in F1, some teams are attempting to innovate in the area of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). According to the current F1 sporting regulations, teams have the option of implementing KERS via electrical or mechanical means. http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/8763.html http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/87...
- dotBen 15y ago
  This year all teams are supposed to have it. Williams, who experimented with a fly-wheel design two years ago, switched to electrical system this year - which means all teams that use KERS now have battery-orientated systems.
  - Arjuna 15y ago
    Just to provide clarification, KERS is optional for the 2011 F1 season. According to http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/8763.html http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/87... (Under the "Do teams have to use it?" question): "The use of KERS is not compulsory." According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F1_2011#Rule_changes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F1_2011#Rule_changes : "KERS units will be optional for all teams, after not being utilized in 2010 following a team agreement banning the devices [...]" If a team does decide to deploy a KERS package, these are the technical implementation details that must be followed: http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/technical_regulations/8699/fia.html http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/tech...
suking 15y ago
Maybe San Francisco can host the world's first Prius Grand Prix - that would be real fun!

Mc_Big_G 15y ago

Rabid F1 fan here. What do you think about the introduction of DRS? (DRS is a "drag reduction system" which allows drivers to move the rear wing to reduce drag when passing.) I like that it's making the race more exciting with more passing, but it doesn't really seem like a fair race at the end. For example, a driver could lead the whole race and then get passed in the last lap due to the unfair advantage of the DRS.

LokiSnake 15y ago
I don't think the last race did the DRS right, but the first few races used the DRS better. The point is the DRS should bring a driver almost along side, so if you have the advantage in terms of grip, you'd be able to pass. Before the DRS, you can be catching a car 1+ seconds a lap, but can't get close enough because you start hitting the turbulent air from the car in front. The whole point is to get rid of this problem without making passing too easy.
davej 15y ago
Not really, the car behind still needs to get in the one second window to have the advantage of DRS. They still need to tweak it so that passing isn't too easy but thats just a case of trial and error, they'll get it right eventually. If you compare this with last year (and particularly 2009) when cars could be up to three seconds a lap faster but still not be able to pass the car in front, it was obvious that something needed to be done.
kylec 15y ago
I know this will probably sound heretical, but I think that there's no such thing as an "unfair advantage". If we really wanted to see technical innovation in F1, there would be virtually no restrictions on the cars - just some basic safety stuff for the drivers.
- hristov 15y ago
  But the DRS does have a lot of rules which may deem it unfair. For example, if one car is leading and another following, the following car is allowed to use DRS, but the leading car isn't.

rmason 15y ago

I've been a huge fan of Formula 1 since the sixties. As a young boy in Detroit I would call the Detroit News sports desk to have them read the results off the news wire to me to see who won. Otherwise I'd have to wait a week for the magazines to come from Europe. Sure makes you appreciate real time information!

eru 15y ago

The problem with F1: It's boring.

adhipg 15y ago
Have you seen any race of this season? There has been more overtaking than MotoGP!
rjrodger 15y ago
You don't watch it for the racing, you watch it for the strategy. That's why Murray Walker was the best all-time F1 commentator - it was the way he explained the strategies.
- eru 15y ago
  I guess that could make it enjoyable. I even enjoyed watching football (i.e. soccer) when I did so with a knowledgeable friend.

dotBen 15y ago

I was going to say the exact same thing. This is nothing like NASCAR, or even rival open-wheel racing like Indie Car. The amount of cloud computing the teams use is staggering too - during race weekends they'll compute the model of changing every potential setting on the car (physical, mechanical, software) and then play out the race to work out the impact. As the race weekend progresses they'll continue to lock down setting and begin to extrapolate to the permutations of every rival car in order to work out strategies. Even during the race its not just the team's two cars and some guys on the pit wall... McLaren, perhaps the most technically advanced team in F1, has a whole "Space launch style" mission control room back in the UK where 10+ people monitor every piece of data from the car and works out strategic changes on the fly by feeding the data in the computer models.

akronim 15y ago
Which explains how McLaren's strategy calls can vary between brilliance - when the models get it right - and stupefyingly bizarre when the simulation diverges from reality.
- suking 15y ago
  It also depends how much they steal from Ferrari during the current year as well :-).

mark_h 15y ago

I am absolutely a fan of the technology, but much less so of the sport. I suppose my issue/question is: how do you enjoy all that just watching it on TV? (This is actually a serious question; are there for example real-time websites that give you an information overlay on what's happening, or do you just enjoy watching knowing how complicated it is underneath the surface?) Sorry, on re-reading you do talk about off-track being just as exciting; so I suppose I'd rephrase the question as: where do you follow all this information?

nikcub 15y ago
the watching on TV is only part of it - I follow websites and blogs, the team sites, etc. and good TV coverage will spend the saturday talking about tech, strategy etc.
rakkhi 15y ago
I do both. Enjoy just watching it but also follow on an iPad app that provides a lot of detail. Its actually really exciting this year with the DRS (http://www.ozracingwrap.com.au/news/formula-1/2537-the-f1-movable-rear-wing-drag-reduction-system-explained.html http://www.ozracingwrap.com.au/news/formula-1/2537-the-f1-mo...). A lot passing and attempted passing. I couldn't move from the Turkey GP and Webber's drive from 18th to Podium in China was awesome. You do need to like cars and speed to get into it but as the lights countdown for the takeoff my heart definitely beats faster. Being friends with a Renault wind tunnel model designer and former F3 driver helps also :)
liedra 15y ago
I really like f1fanatic.co.uk for pretty good analysis and updates (and, of course, gossip and drama! :). There is a pretty good forum on there for people to chat too, and it has a lot of very knowledgeable people who hang around. ... I just realised that this article was on f1fanatic, DUH. But yeah, it's definitely the best site I've seen for F1 news.

nl 15y ago

If anyone is interested, McLaren is looking for an embedded software engineer: http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Jobs/ http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Jobs/ ("Embedded C Software Engineer - Engine Control - Data Acquisition") My friend works there and loves it. It's in Surrey, England (in this place: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/england/mclaren_technology_centre.htm http://www.e-architect.co.uk/england/mclaren_technology_cent...)

nazgulnarsil 15y ago

F1 is too much a parade. Give me prototype moto racing any day.