F1 Autosport Overtakings 1983 To 2007

[Imhotep Evil]

autosport.com
and is titled "Passing Thoughts: F1 Overtaking Analysis". Written by
Michele Merlino - subscr.


The data goes back to 1983.


excludes:
a] any place changes made during pit stops
b] all lapping or unlapping manoeuvres
c] any place changes made during the first lap
d] some passes where lap time analysis 'proves' that a driver had a problem which caused him to lose places

 

[Centurion]

In the past the cars were as unreliable as a 1950s Russian space rocket, many drivers didn't even know if the car would last the entire race.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

True, but this chart excludes retirement gains.


several reasons:

- more cars (30+ vs. 22 today),
- less chicanes
- more mechanical grip
- turbo boost push-to-pass buttons
- longer breaking distances
- no refueling
- cleaner/proper aerodynamics (this does not mean less downforce as some had more than today; but less turbulence, less sensitivity and less drag vs. engine power)
- (much) wider technological/performance gap thru the field in terms of tires (till 84), brakes, engines/engine-electronics (kind of like the multi class format of ALMS/LMS )


Some of those 80s numbers will not return simply because of there are less cars closer togheter.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

In the past the cars were as unreliable as a 1950s Russian space rocket, many drivers didn't even know if the car would last the entire race.

True, here's an intro and a race.

[GV]8442471591391179523[/GV]

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[Imhotep Evil]

And a true good ol' fashion overtaking + close finish race:

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[Imhotep Evil]

Clean aero cars with slicks:


Ground effects 1.0
(venturi undertrays + sliding skirts + almost no ground clearance)
with lovely slicks 21 inch rear

2.278 Kgs downforce @ 150mph/240 kmh with 285 Kgs of drag
Lift-to-drag ratio: 8:1
[ The Gods of downforce and aero-efficiency were the wing-skirt cars and they'll never - ever be equalled. ]



Ground effects 2.0
(true flat bottom/no plank + potent diffuser + ground effect front wing + active suspensions + 6 cm ground clearance suposebly) with nice slicks 18 inch rear

 

[Centurion]

Having thought about it I'm glad that launch and traction controls are forbidden this year. I think it will result in increased overtakings because it will push the drivers capabilities and balls to the limit. Minor mistakes will no longer be corrected and the drivers will pay for them.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

>
^ Personally I think F1 should have banned the drivers and let some unlimited/unrestricted cars drive themselves.
600 km/h on the Monza straight, 12Gs in the bends, Formula unlimited.

 

[Centurion]

Lol, btw. How come none of the teams use those ancient over sized front spoilers?

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Bans and restrictions (1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 to 2005).
The front wing generated/was in ground effect. If the front started to understeer the active suspensions would dive the nose thus the front wing would generated more ground effect downforce and stabilise the car. By 97 teams were using flexi wings to stabilise to front but they were banned in 1998.


Here's a 1990 Ferrari



now take a look at the F2000 front wing



Now compare to the F2005

See how much higher and curvy-er the front wing is. Because it is so high the car behind can lose up to 80 to 90% of the front downforce effectively being forced to back off or crash the car.

 

[Gullwing]

>
^ Personally I think F1 should have banned the drivers and let some unlimited/unrestricted cars drive themselves.
600 km/h on the Monza straight, 12Gs in the bends, Formula unlimited.

There would be some great crashes, today on the Monza straight the Ferrari lost control at 580km/h, spun out and flipped end over end for 3.4 km before landing in someones house.
Though the cars would probably brake after four laps.
Would be cool though.

 

[NarutoRamen]

They need to bring back ground-effects and slicks!!!

 

[bmer]

They need to bring back ground-effects and slicks!!!

LOL You are starting to sound like Imhotep now.

 

[NarutoRamen]

LOL You are starting to sound like Imhotep now.

Well, those f__ks are limiting budgets now too. I say, limited budget with no design restrictions is what's going to be good for F1.

 

[PanterroR]

Nice work with this thread, IE.