I have extracted a lot of RPM vs speed data from online videos and this is the result:
The graph shows the speed achieved in each gear between 8000 and 13000 RPM, where the engines spend most of their life.
For the first eight teams, this is the resut of fitting a lot of data points and hence quite reliable. For Sauber and Marussia (thanks a lot, Blanchimont) it is based on a single data point per gear and for Caterham it is based on a single video on intermediates, so there might be an error with the conversion to dry tires. The missing 8th and 1st gears are only missing from the graph, Mercedes did use 8th in China, Force India probably never engaged it at all and for other teams it is simply in none of the videos. Similarly, 1st gear data are scarce and often plagued by wheelspin.
AFAICT all teams used the exact same gears for the first 4 races, so this is the state from Australia to China.
I gues smost teams are likely to use the allowed change of all gear ratios at some point in the season.
And these are the gear ratios (Engine RPM / wheel RPM), assiming the tires to be a perfect circumference with a diameter of 660mm:
Gear Merc. Will. McLar. F.India T.Rosso R.Bull Lotus Marus. Ferrari Sauber Caterham
1 13.597 19.288 14.636
2 11.509 11.238 12.579 11.562 12.429 13.508 13.612 11.815 11.403 11.045 13.341
3 9.577 9.600 9.347 9.519 9.305 9.913 10.173 9.333 9.425 9.025 9.683
4 7.879 8.021 7.732 7.904 7.713 7.825 8.006 7.776 7.708 7.487 7.622
5 6.299 6.824 6.344 6.293 6.486 6.460 6.725 6.642 6.628 6.586 6.343
6 5.105 5.702 5.454 5.122 5.471 5.524 5.704 5.778 5.784 5.679 5.363
7 4.299 4.953 4.839 4.396 4.723 4.886 5.039 5.141 5.113 5.128 4.802
8 4.401 4.373 4.281 4.418 4.350 4.608 4.335
Graphs for the individual teams and other details over here:
http://www.f1technic...php?f=4&t=18700
Actual 2014 gearing from online videos
#1
Posted 06 May 2014 - 06:01
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#2
Posted 07 May 2014 - 23:52
Wow - that is great data - and very telling too. The superiority of the Mercedes powertrain can virtually be inferred from this gearing data.
1. The MB powered teams are running much taller gearing overall indicating a probable power extension to lower rpm than other teams.
2. Similarly they are using wider gear spacing confirming power at lower rpm and a wider power band.
Developing power at lower revs (eg peak power at 10,000 rpm) means more power - lower friction losses subtracted from the fixed energy rate permitted by the rules.
#3
Posted 03 June 2014 - 10:27
Updated after Monaco:
And gear ratios assuming the tires to be a circumference with a diameter of 660mm:
#4
Posted 03 June 2014 - 16:05
So the Merc is "only" doing 290-300km`t at 10 000?
Supports my idea that they "neglect" top speed and being at peak power at the straights for getting up to a higher average down the straights but with less speed at the end of it. Much like top fuel dragsters favoring the downforce early and basically being top speed "limited" despite 8000hp pushing it.
Bold? statement: First 100meters mean more than the last 200
It makes sense really as you spend less time per sone at the end anyway. Optimise the sone your spending the most time in and so on. Right?
#5
Posted 03 June 2014 - 17:41
I just assumed everyone would be doing that. Even in overtaking terms I'd probably prefer having the jump off the corner and the chance to close in, than an advantage at the very last moment.
#6
Posted 03 June 2014 - 20:48
DRS - the jump off the corner gets you in the slipstream, which means you're in the slipstream on the straight, and then within 1 sec for the DrS detect.
#7
Posted 03 June 2014 - 22:58
Yes - everybody is doing it!
The engines will be within a few percent of max power from say 10,000 to 12,0000 rpm. If you draw a vertical band covering that range on each graph, you will see that everybody can deliver peak power at any speed from 90 to 350 km/hr.
#8
Posted 05 June 2014 - 08:00
Updated after Monaco:
And gear ratios assuming the tires to be a circumference with a diameter of 660mm:
notice Mercs 1st -13.597 much longer than anyone else and thence to equivalent of almost an extra gear to all the others in 8th - 3.888
they seem more confident in the torque delivery of their package than all the other teams
ps doesn't seem to want to link the gear ratio table ?
Edited by carlt, 05 June 2014 - 14:08.
#9
Posted 05 June 2014 - 13:17
First gear might be to get the jump in the start somehow. I know it was/is a big thing in rallycross. Perhaps not so much with these fast gearboxes now. That said. A chance to second too early could upset the car and give wheelspin.
How have Merc done in the starts this season?
IMO. The Caterham looks more like what i would do. Thight at the top and wide at the bottom. Im talking about their relations not their ratios. Is it possible that some of them starts in Second gear? Some of them are really low.
Edited by MatsNorway, 05 June 2014 - 13:22.
#10
Posted 05 June 2014 - 22:18
First gear is mostly about what the engine does at very low rpm - at what rpm does the torque suddenly drop off and become totally unusable.
#11
Posted 07 June 2014 - 06:36
Create suspicion of gears that are designed around when DRS or and electric power is activated. Does also question on McLaren and Force India missing out on Mercedes-Benz's best parts.
#12
Posted 14 September 2014 - 08:12
Update after Monza.
4 teams have used their gear ratio change jokers so far:
Toro Rosso changed only their 1st gear (and I never got to see the old one to compare).
McLaren changed them all a race before Spa in a rather dramatic way: they left 8th untouched and then adapted the rest so that their new 4th matches their old 3rd. As a result, their gearing is now radically different to everyone else's. (Old gears in gray, the new 1st gears still missing)
Red Bull changed 1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th to make them slightly longer in time for Spa. (Old in gray, new in colors)
And Ferrari changed 8th gear in both cars to a bit less than 3% longer in time for Monza, apparently leaving the other gear ratios unchanged.
This is the current gearing picture:
#13
Posted 14 September 2014 - 10:12
What was the top speeds at monza - again the merc [and now force india has 8th on graph] are 30kph longer than all the others ?
#14
Posted 14 September 2014 - 10:39
362Kph.
#15
Posted 21 September 2014 - 08:54
Update with the new gears in the Merdeces from Singapore on. Their new 8th is shorter than their old 7th. 1st is missing from the new set.
Their gears are not that different anymore from, say, Williams or Red Bull:
And the new overall picture:
#16
Posted 21 September 2014 - 11:10
Does this mean the remaining circuits are all high DF, low top speed?
#17
Posted 24 September 2014 - 17:10
That would be my guess. The extra long 8th for the Force India is probably a 'fuel mileage' or engine life gear.
Another component of the first gear selection is the clutch strategy. If your clutch can take a beating (on starts & leaving pits), then you can run a taller first and potentially use it on the actual race track.