4 ms·

Formula 1 has never driven production automobiles. Practically every first used in f1 isn't or came from outside the automotive industry. I suppose this car is

Formula 1 has never driven production automobiles. Practically every first used in f1 isn't or came from outside the automotive industry. I suppose this car is quite disruptive as it too follows no rules nor regulations.

tyw 14y ago
as I understand it, the point isn't that they drive cars that approximate production automobiles. But rather that the technology the teams develop to come up with competitive advantages (lightweight-yet-strong materials, power from limited displacement volume, aerodynamic improvements, etc.) will be useful to production cars. The point that others are making is that the F1 rules are now so stringent that teams are not rewarded for coming up with these types of massive improvements and are limited to tiny tweaks.
- orangethirty 14y ago
  But those tiny tweaks are not tiny at all. Realize that there are very smart teams of engineers. If one team manages to get a bit ahead, it means that they are putting huge resources on the small tweak. Add up a couple of small tweaks and you end up with a new technology altogether. Formula 1 is about engineering. Ferrari is one of the leading teams in terms of getting new technology introduced to the real world. When production Ferrari cars started to have paddles behind the wheels, and people wanted them in other luxury cars, what do you think happened? Nowdays, even my daughters Power Wheels has paddles. But realize that those paddles were engineered into reality because engineers wanted to save space, time, and weight. Little tweaks that combined into a new way to shift gears.
TallGuyShort 14y ago
tyw is correct: My meaning was that the teams are the first to refine technology that later finds use in production automobiles. To illustrate my point, KERS has now found use the new McLaren F1 (supercar) - I expect it will continue to have repercussions as high-performance rechargable batteries become more prominent in automotive engineering.

tyw 14y ago

as I understand it, the point isn't that they drive cars that approximate production automobiles. But rather that the technology the teams develop to come up with competitive advantages (lightweight-yet-strong materials, power from limited displacement volume, aerodynamic improvements, etc.) will be useful to production cars. The point that others are making is that the F1 rules are now so stringent that teams are not rewarded for coming up with these types of massive improvements and are limited to tiny tweaks.

orangethirty 14y ago
But those tiny tweaks are not tiny at all. Realize that there are very smart teams of engineers. If one team manages to get a bit ahead, it means that they are putting huge resources on the small tweak. Add up a couple of small tweaks and you end up with a new technology altogether. Formula 1 is about engineering. Ferrari is one of the leading teams in terms of getting new technology introduced to the real world. When production Ferrari cars started to have paddles behind the wheels, and people wanted them in other luxury cars, what do you think happened? Nowdays, even my daughters Power Wheels has paddles. But realize that those paddles were engineered into reality because engineers wanted to save space, time, and weight. Little tweaks that combined into a new way to shift gears.

TallGuyShort 14y ago

tyw is correct: My meaning was that the teams are the first to refine technology that later finds use in production automobiles. To illustrate my point, KERS has now found use the new McLaren F1 (supercar) - I expect it will continue to have repercussions as high-performance rechargable batteries become more prominent in automotive engineering.