27 replies to this topic

[gluon]

As both a Ferrari and Michael Schumacher fan I regreted some comments about the alleged auto-shifting F2004 during the Bahrain GP, but after watching yesterday's San Marino qualifying session on tape I clearly saw something stunning.

Just after Schumacher ran wide at "Variante Alta" the TV coverage switched back to his onboard camera. You can clearly see an up-shift as his hand moves behind the wheel, then he slips his right hand to the right on the cockpit and starts setting something on the car for quite a few seconds, then you listen a second up-shift while he keeps his hand down there in circular movements and finally he gets it back on the wheel and shifts to 7th gear.

Did anyone else notice this?

[Chevy II Nova]

Each side of the wheel has a pivoting paddle. One way is up, the other is down.

[Keith Young]

What post did Ross say that in? I find it pretty funny hehe.

He upshifted by pushing the left paddle forward, one could down shift by pushing the right paddle forward.

[brad_d]

Originally posted by Chevy II Nova
Each side of the wheel has a pivoting paddle. One way is up, the other is down.

During Speed Channel's coverage of either qualifying or Friday practice this week (can't recall which), Steve Matchett talked about this. Specifically saying that he was bringing it up in response to allegations bandied about on the Speed message boards, Matchett described a system just like that one - basically, Ferrari's setup allows shifts up or down with the left hand.

Some may choose not to believe him, for whatever reason. On this I shall not comment. However, the concept he describes makes sense to me:

Ferrari are not stupid. Since brake bias must be adjusted off the steering wheel (the rule doesn't say that in so many words, but that's one of the apparent practical implications), it seems pretty natural that they would explore a system allowing the driver to shift in either direction while one hand is off the wheel.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Anyone have a copy of the gearbox rules handy? Specifically how they define the command to change gears.

What prevents you from say, having the computer predict what the ideal rpm in 6th gear is to downshift into 5th gear under braking and get max engine brake assist. Then the ideal min rpm in 5th to go to 4th etc. When the computer sees this it asks the driver if he'd like to downshift, and he confirms it by pressing the left paddle. Except he's been holding it down continuously since he approached the brake zone preconfirming each shift, letting the car change down when it needs to. Just because with modern short brake zones, its gotta be hard with a 7 speed box to time them all perfectly.

[ciaoduc]

I think "it's gotta be hard" is a relative term. Forgive me, but everytime I watch these guys drive these cars, I sit in awe wondering how they can do what they do at the speeds they do it. I have enough trouble driving my car in traffic and adjusting the radio, I can't imagine: 1)driving an F1 car, 2)driving an F1 car at the speeds they drive them, 3) driving at those speeds AND reaching to the right side of the cockpit to do something AND downshift with the hand that normaly upshifts all the while defending your line, keeping out of the dirt and holding some kind of communication with the pits. They are amazing...

[gluon]

Originally posted by Chevy II Nova
Each side of the wheel has a pivoting paddle. One way is up, the other is down.

I watch Formula One since 1993, I perfectly know that! You misunderstood my hole post!
What I'm saying is that it up-shifted without Michael pushing the right paddle!

[Wuzak]

Originally posted by anakin


I watch Formula One since 1993, I perfectly know that! You misunderstood my hole post!
What I'm saying is that it up-shifted without Michael pushing the right paddle!

And what they are saying is that he didn't need to upshift with the right paddle - he used the left paddle.

[pgrazia]

DURANTE LAS TRES ULTIMAS CARRERAS HE OBSERVADO LA MANO DERECHA DE SHUMACHER MOVILIZANDO UN DISPOSITIVO EN LA PORCION INFERIOR DERECHA DEL HABITACULO NO RELACIONADO CON EL VOLANTE.¿¿ QUE HACE ESTE DISPOSITIVO?? MEJORA LA MEZCLA DE COMBUSTIBLE?. TIEN UN TANQUE MAS PEQEÑO CON GASOLINA FRIA.¿CAMBIA DISCRETAMENTE LA ORIENTACION DE LOS ALERONES?.¿ AJUSTA LA SUSPENSION? . NOTEN EN VIDEO EN LA CLASIFICACION CUANDO COMETE EL ERROR EN RIVAZZA COMO MUEVE ALGO EN EL HABITACULO.
EN LA CARRERA DE HOY LO MOVIO MUCHAS OCASIONES. ALGO HAY DE LA DIFERECENCIA DE UN SEGUNDO CON BARRICHELLO.
NO HE VISTO JAMAS A BARRICHELO EN TODOS LOS VIDEOS DE LAS CARRERAS QUE TENGO MOVILIZAR ESTE DISPOSITIVO . ¿LO TIENE O NO ??

[Chevy II Nova]

Originally posted by Wuzak


And what they are saying is that he didn't need to upshift with the right paddle - he used the left paddle.

Exactly. I think somebody misunderstood somebody, and it wasn't me misunderstanding anyone.

[Keith Young]

I do however misunderstand pgrazia, can someone translate? I dont have the energy to figure out which words are similar to english and peice that (spanish?) together.

[turin]

Originally posted by pgrazia
DURANTE LAS TRES ULTIMAS CARRERAS HE OBSERVADO LA MANO DERECHA DE SHUMACHER MOVILIZANDO UN DISPOSITIVO EN LA PORCION INFERIOR DERECHA DEL HABITACULO NO RELACIONADO CON EL VOLANTE.¿¿ QUE HACE ESTE DISPOSITIVO?? MEJORA LA MEZCLA DE COMBUSTIBLE?. TIEN UN TANQUE MAS PEQEÑO CON GASOLINA FRIA.¿CAMBIA DISCRETAMENTE LA ORIENTACION DE LOS ALERONES?.¿ AJUSTA LA SUSPENSION? . NOTEN EN VIDEO EN LA CLASIFICACION CUANDO COMETE EL ERROR EN RIVAZZA COMO MUEVE ALGO EN EL HABITACULO.
EN LA CARRERA DE HOY LO MOVIO MUCHAS OCASIONES. ALGO HAY DE LA DIFERECENCIA DE UN SEGUNDO CON BARRICHELLO.
NO HE VISTO JAMAS A BARRICHELO EN TODOS LOS VIDEOS DE LAS CARRERAS QUE TENGO MOVILIZAR ESTE DISPOSITIVO . ¿LO TIENE O NO ??

Shall I translate this one? (I think is the first post I´ve seen in spanish, and let the guy be replied)

Here it goes....

During the last three races I´ve seen MS right hand switching something outside the steering wheel. Does anybody now what is that? Oil mixture perhaps? Wing set-up? Suspension adjustements? You can see on video footage after Rivazza´s mistake he moved something, and he did so several times today during the race. Something is different from RB´s car, to explain the 1 sec difference.

I´ve never seen RB using something similar. Does he have it?

End of translation.

I think the 1 sec difference is just because RB is not MS, and there is no button ( hehe) in the world that can revert that.

[zango]

Originally posted by anakin


I watch Formula One since 1993, I perfectly know that! You misunderstood my hole post!
What I'm saying is that it up-shifted without Michael pushing the right paddle!

The point is that the paddle on either side of the steering wheel can be used to shift up or down. Think of it like having two shift levers in the car - both of them are functionally equivalent.

[Wuzak]

Originally posted by turin


Shall I translate this one?
I´ve never seen RB using something similar. Does he have it?

End of translation.

I think the 1 sec difference is just because RB is not MS, and there is no button ( hehe) in the world that can revert that.

I think he would have every button, lever and knob that Schumi has. But maybe he is too busy to be able to do that....

I remember reading that during practice in Brazil 2002 (I think) onboard footage of Schumacher came up. He was adjusting something or other on the steering wheel - in the middle of the corner! The report says that jaws up and down pitlane dropped......

[gluon]

Originally posted by Chevy II Nova


Exactly. I think somebody misunderstood somebody, and it wasn't me misunderstanding anyone.

Indeed, you're right.

I misunderstood your post. I thought you were just talking about the shifting paddles, I didn't understand you were refering to the forward and backward movement of them which made me believe you were telling me something academic.

I apologize on that.

[Chevy II Nova]

No apology needed. Wanna sleep with me now?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by Wuzak


I think he would have every button, lever and knob that Schumi has. But maybe he is too busy to be able to do that....

I remember reading that during practice in Brazil 2002 (I think) onboard footage of Schumacher came up. He was adjusting something or other on the steering wheel - in the middle of the corner! The report says that jaws up and down pitlane dropped......

Heh, must be easily impressed. I recall that video, he was adjusting the brake knob as he was turning in for the final corner at Brazil, and while his dexerity was impressive, plenty of that goes on in F3/F3000 and the like with gear changes mid corner. And I dont beleive those have power steering

[Wuzak]

In F1 they are constantly adjusting this or that these days. Different settings for different corners.....

[Chevy II Nova]

I have come to the conclusion that MS is special in that regard simply because no one else does it in Formula One. Of the best drivers in the world, only him. I think that alone says a lot about his ability to adjust the racecar lap by lap.

[Wuzak]

Gear changing would be a bit different to adjusting brake bias, or whatever. Especially sequential shifts.

I'd have thought....

[Chevy II Nova]

Say what?

[Wuzak]

I would have thought changing gears in a sequential box in a turn (a la F3) would be easier than adjusting brake bias/diff settings/TC settings in an F1 car in a turn.

[Keith Young]

Could someone tell the spaniard MS was adjusting brake bias when his right hand was to the right of the steering wheel? Though he may be able to read a little english seeing as though he posted the question in a related topic.

[Freebird]

Schumacher has been adjusting the brake bias for years on that stretch of track after the Variante Alta. I'm sure to allow for the hard down hill braking at rivazza. I've always wondered how he is able to adjust the bias knob back and forth, two times a lap, every lap, and not fall out of the correct adjustment range.


Stops or detents on the knob? msw

[Chevy II Nova]

Originally posted by Wuzak
I would have thought changing gears in a sequential box in a turn (a la F3) would be easier than adjusting brake bias/diff settings/TC settings in an F1 car in a turn.

Oh. I thought you were responding to my post...

Freebird I have always assumed that he used stops for each end of the adjustment spectrum.

[Keith Young]

that and the fact he has done it so many times. its like before pre set tunings for your car stereo. If only I could go between women as well as I could go between stations.

[100cc]

Originally posted by Freebird

Stops or detents on the knob? msw

looked like he had half a turn at a time adjustments on the brake bias knob. i.e you can only turn it half, not 1/4 or 1/8.

[Todd]

I thought the way they explained it on Speed was that Ferrari's shifters are a one piece assembly, pivoted in the middle like a see-saw. Push on the right, and the left comes back. Pull on the left, and the right goes forward. Ergo, up and down shifts can be accomplished with either hand.