116 replies to this topic

[KWSN - DSM]

Not sarcastic. It's a very big indicator of how easy the car was to drive at the limit.

 

You are such a treasure [/sarcasm code]

[PayasYouRace]

You are such a treasure [/sarcasm code]

 

Just drawing a logical conclusion.

[PayasYouRace]

OK this should stimulate debate. Which era of F1 had the easiest cars to drive at the limit?

[KWSN - DSM]

Just drawing a logical conclusion.

 

I see it as your usual p.... on a thread and ruining the fun.

[Zmeej]

You are such a treasure [/sarcasm code]

 

Most of us are treasures. [straight-up mode]

 

Apart from that - guess it's PayasYouRace's turn to get on your nerves.

Edited by Zmeej, 31 May 2023 - 20:29.

[Zmeej]

Which era of F1 had the easiest cars to drive at the limit?

 

Hmmmm.

 

Interesting question.

 

However, I'd suggest that only the very best drivers on any grid found driving at the limit "the place where they had the car as often as they could."

Driving at the limit being what it is, don't think it has ever been easy.

 

It's much safer to do this nowadays, so a driver who does it doesn't risk life and limb as much as those who did it in the 1950s-early 90s did.

In that sense, it's "psychologically easier," but I doubt it's mechanically/physically easier.

Edited by Zmeej, 31 May 2023 - 20:28.

[dissident]

This is a recurring theme in the Moto GP thread.

 

I do think that the cars are a lot more refined now compared to 20+ years ago - I still remember when even the top cars could hardly ride a kerb, not to mention the lack of downforce vs the current era.

 

But the drivers are also better prepared than ever, despite the lack of track time, plus the tracks (yes, even Monaco) are a lot more forgiving.

[Zmeej]

The tracks have certainly been made much more forgiving.

 

Not to mention run-off areas and stuff such as the absence of trees near the track, etc. …

[kumo7]

OK this should stimulate debate. Which era of F1 had the easiest cars to drive at the limit?

There was this logic that an easier car to drive (compare to its opponents) allows the drivers to win the most. So HAM’s Merc 7 times as well as Michael’s 7 times were the era that allowed teams to build the race cars which were the most easier to win the titles.
Yet this does not mean that those cars were the easiest to drive. Vis-a-vis. The era made teams to produce the most difficult cares to win, and the least difficult had won.

I do think that Schumacher’s era had electronic gadgets which made it easier to drive. Some said you do not need a driver to win the title, as the race cars were equipped with GPS, traction control, active suspension (till 91), and the operation control center plus strategy team back in the factory communicating electronically.

[Primo]

OK this should stimulate debate. Which era of F1 had the easiest cars to drive at the limit?

I would say in the sixties, up until the wings. That is when they had suspension geometry reasonably figured out and the cars were predictable. When downforce was "discovered", a new element of unpredictibility was introduced, the speed increased and the tolerances around "limit" started to shrink again. Predictability and a "wide" limit basically translates to "Easy to drive" since then you can anticipate what you will need to to and you will have a bigger timeframe where within  you do what you need to do.

[Beamer]

OK this should stimulate debate. Which era of F1 had the easiest cars to drive at the limit?

Or the other way around: which defenitely weren't easy to drive? I'd say the early turbo monsters kicking in loads of hp all of a sudden would require quite some skill...

[Sterzo]

I wonder whether the question actually means very much. Clearly, some cars are more predictable than others, and therefore easier to drive consistently. However, any racing driver with a licence could drive any GP car from 1906 onwards. The difficulty is not in driving the car, but in beating the other drivers.

[Dolph]

[quote name="Primo" post="10271132" A car on the limit is a car on the limit.[/quote]

Not sure what you are trying to say, but a car witj severe turbo lag at Monaco in the rain is for sure a big challenge. The limit is very different.

[Ferrim]

Surprised that no one upped this after today's events

[ForzaFormula]

Compared to the past very easy to drive, just the top drivers know how to get the last tenths out of their cars.

But in general they are not challenging, only with the g-forces involved and the taxes on the body.

[ForzaFormula]

Surprised that no one upped this after today's events

Drivers don't have enough practice (and sometimes talent) in wet ish conditions.

And with safety cars/red flags handed out so easily they don't gain more experience and often you get drivers say "its to wet" "to dangerous" 

never was the case in the past.

[Bleu]

I sometimes wonder if banning power steering would make it more difficult.