Driver styles/preferences

[timbo]

Alonso always preferred slower steering.
Compare him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwny3NhDD88
to Trulli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C02hzgvzqN8
same car same tyres

[Echo]

I have only read the first few Posts on the thread, but I will add:

Driving is not always getting the perfect angle out of the corner. Generally in karting where you want to carry As much speed as possible in a corner, so usually you take the apex more "weirdly"... Sorry for this bad explanation.
As a post said, people tend to get the car/kart to oversteer in to the corner so you get into the corner better but not oversteer out of it -.-

Want to add in other racing classes, drivers tend to jump or trying to move to the outside of the corner trying to get up the back inside wheel so you can corner faster.... It's a very complicated way to tell how it works, but it's bloody important!

[marcush.]

oh ,finally we get to a point when people recognize that you might have a superior driving talent but still cannot get all out of certain cars or tracks .
It is a myth that the very best should be quick in anything -they are- but on the level of current formula 1 that is just not enough -the thing must fit like a glove or circumstances have to play into your hands -or both.

[raymondu999]

I think it plays both ways marcush. Some drivers drive in certain ways that really are somewhat specialised for certain circuits and/or car characteristics, and there are cars/tracks that really are prima donnas in that they shirk off every driving style/line except for a few.

I remember reading somewhere a while back that for example, Keke Rosberg vs Alain Prost. Prost is quite a smooth driver, and trail brakes a lot up to the apex. Keke was a bit more exciting, sliding the rear into corners etc. I don't remember the specific example the article used, or why it was Keke and Alain being used in the article, but they said that Keke was quicker at times because of this. But then came the turbo era and because Prost kept the car relatively on rails (as JT would point out - the tyres would trchnically be having a bit of slip) then he could use the power to power out. While Keke couldn't because he lost so much time trying to regain traction - which Prost had used to power out.

[godlameroso]

It seems this year the tires have a certain sweet spot that lets them be consistent for about 4-6 laps depending on compound, and then they begin degrading non-linearly; albeit in a predictable manner. So cars the are set up to compromise, either the tires last, but are hard to turn on(performance-wise), or you turn them on and you blow them in 4-6 laps, and hope your driver is good enough to cope. This year, the aerodynamics are relatively close, and the drivers are also relatively close in preparedness and skill. Therefore, most things being equal, the strategy with the tires becomes a huge variable. Then there's also the possibility of turning on the tires but not pushing until a certain threshold is reached, as a compromise to extract the overall maximum.

If there's not much difference in compounds(time-wise) it might make sense to just go with a tire that will yield more consistent numbers for a longer period. Perhaps in another normal race we might see teams go soft hard soft, or soft hard hard, and try to keep something in reserve for a final push.

In a sense these new regulations really are not just about driver skill, but planning ahead. In Melbourne Lewis killed his tires turning them on and then it was just about damage limitation, he never got to show his true pace, whereas Button was able to turn them on without cooking them. By the time Hamilton decided to go to hards it was too late, maybe in China. More than anything these tires require a certain finesse, perhaps pushing 100% destroys the tires, so going 99.9% is what's needed.

[strad]

Have stumbled onto this,,,am still checking it out...some budding Vettles might find it helpful..
http://safeisfast.com/

Driver coaching may remain something of an untapped trade in Formula 1, but the next generation of drivers are set to benefit from an interesting new online initiative launched in America this week which will see some of the country’s biggest racing names lend their advice to up-and-coming stars.

The SAFEisFAST.com website is run by the US-based Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC), whose members are some of the most successful racing names from America and Europe such as Dario Franchitti and Chip Ganassi. The site is supported by a grant from the FIA Institute and already offers online video tutorials across the spectrum of the skillset needed to be a top racing driver, including mental skills, fitness and race craft. Now, in a new feature to be rolled out over the forthcoming months, a series of high-profile driver instructors will take it in turns every two weeks to answers the questions of young drivers in online posts.

Current Indy Lights Champion Josef Newgarden is first up on a schedule of drivers that includes four-time IndyCar champion Franchitti and JR Hildebrand. The project is supported by the FIA Foundation and former Jaguar F1 chief Bobby Rahal, the president of the RRDC, believes the drivers of tomorrow will benefit from direct input from the star names.

“SAFE is FAST started as a series of free young driver workshops three years ago,” he said. “The workshops were highly successful and we quickly realised that we had created something of great value to today’s racers. Moving our coursework online through a series of video tutorials was a logical step – and will benefit drivers from around the world. Our latest program takes that one step further by offering one-on-one time with top drivers from a variety of disciplines.”

Further additional features to be rolled out on the website between now and September include lessons on car set-up, working with the media and nutrition

[PlatinumZealot]

Just came across this article on the driving style of few drivers on the 2012 Pirelli rubber.



It's in spanish. So anyone care to translate please.

The last trial by fire
(Rna should say water)
have passed the Sunday
in Malaysia with the tires
intermediate. So versatile
to go very strong on the wet
and even in mixed conditions
dry for several laps.
Stuff to shame Ia competition
about the past.
"And in fact in other categories
the opponents have always tried
to delete Regulation
... >> She says with a pinch
eli malice English Paul Hembery
Director of the activity
Pirelli sport. The next
bet the company rnilanese
and keep up the show
in F.l. "Already we are working
important changes
for il2013. But, if necessary,
we might begin
this year. We have several
solutions ready in the drawer.
The teams will adjust in
tta frequency. The goal and make
strategies that are less predictable and
then the races less boring. "
So from May ColleudaiOI't'S
Jerez (Spain) will restart
development work on roofs
with Renault's
2010. He will occupy the
Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari
dismounted abruptly from
Toro Rosso and Brazilian Lucas
Di Grassi. I know no names were
announced yesterday at the headquarters of
Sarca Avenue, along with the pro ·
Ia grams per season, which co ·
SO prone track championships
and rallies, ranging up to cars
history with the new P7
Classic. • <· We wanted to help
a young king - Hembery-explains.
Alguersuari hasolo 22
annie a talent put into mo ·
strategic since the Formula Ford.
Hopefully we can repeat
As suocesso with Heidfeld,
De Ia Rosa and Grosjean, who are
returned F.l. Why not
an Italian? Let's see how it goes
this year in GP2. Ab ·
biamo received more than 100 pro ·
posed by the pilots, it was not easy
decide. "
Stnltecie difficult to replicate in
F.1 operation • baby "that
rally led to invest in
11 million, finding
Estonia in October the Tanakh. But Ia Research
does not stop: Alguersuari and
Di Grassi will work too!
simulator (• I can not tell
• structure which we rely).
developing tires for
F1, GP2 and GP3. "Earlier this year
We were aggressive, awicinando
performance between levariemescole.
Some little news-

trebbe arrive after the first
ten GP. In the future we might instead
Also returning to enlarge
the differences between the tires
"Anticipates Hembery.
Still Is not agree with the fact
Ia that Mercedes has particular
problerni degradation in ga ·
ra: "In Malaysia I scommes ·
I know of Schumacher on the podium.
From our data it was feasible, because
on test structures were
race. "On the crisis of mass,
also attributed to the tires,
Sceltl for Tests
Alp ......
ell Grassl
first CGIJauclo
1'8 mealo at Jerez
cryptic reply: "At all levels
who does not win races search
Ia excuse of tires. "but
which drivers have adapted better to
new tires? "Button
it handles them very well in
Melbourne, while it had
some difficulties in Sepang. pear
conditions in Malaysia were
eli track very strange, perhaps
inthat peril we had run ·
to the MotoGP. Perez can often
to make a pit stop less than
other. Hamilton has this year
improved by changing the way
to drive. Webber did
~ boast a step in qualifying. "It
Alonso? And even with special
the tires? "Sl - Confirmation
Hembery -. · There accorgia
mo studying his data. In ga ·
ra, rna especially during the
evidence, when we have the
tools to collect me ·
thousands eli parameters on the behavior
tire. Alonso
and exceptional. And it just
look what he did in
Malaysia ... '.

[PlatinumZealot]

Hamilton has changed his driving style to drive these pirelli's. However the pirellies seems to be a great fit for other drivers' styles

[raymondu999]

That means there's more he could do to suit the Pirellis though - he could, for example, replicate the other drivers' styles

[godlameroso]

Impossible to replicate styles, because proprioception plays such a huge role in a driver's style, and proprioception is the first sense a human develops. To change the way a person orients himself positionally would require a nothing short of a neural reboot.

[JimClarkFan]

Impossible to replicate styles, because proprioception plays such a huge role in a driver's style, and proprioception is the first sense a human develops. To change the way a person orients himself positionally would require a nothing short of a neural reboot.

Not sure about that.

I think a person with extremely good car control would be able to replicate another persons style, for instance, Hamilton I believe could replicate Button's flowing style should he choose to.

However I feel that Button could not easily replicate Hamiltons style of racing, because that him get used to throwing a car about, something he doesn't really like.

[bhall]

I think a person with extremely good car control would be able to replicate another persons style, for instance, Hamilton I believe could replicate Button's flowing style should he choose to.

Then why does he instead choose to abuse his tires while driving relatively* more recklessly and slower than Button?

I think the cars are so evenly matched that even small changes from year to year can have a big impact on the relative pecking order. A change that helps one driver may hurt another. But, there's also no guarantee that such an advantage will last.

* I emphasize this word so as to not needlessly incite a flame war due to a misunderstanding of my thoughts.

[JimClarkFan]

I think a person with extremely good car control would be able to replicate another persons style, for instance, Hamilton I believe could replicate Button's flowing style should he choose to.

Then why does he instead choose to abuse his tires while driving relatively* more recklessly and slower than Button?

I think the cars are so evenly matched that even small changes from year to year can have a big impact on the relative pecking order. A change that helps one driver may hurt another. But, there's also no guarantee that such an advantage will last.

* I emphasize this word so as to not needlessly incite a flame war due to a misunderstanding of my thoughts.

1- I believe Hamilton is too stubborn to change his driving style, he has admitted as much

2- I think that he is too stupid at times and can't think in the cockpit like the other top drivers can, he has to chase the carrot

3- Even though I feel he could mimic Buttons style, I doubt that he could be as fast as Button

[Lycoming]

That sounds incredibly ignorant...

for starters, one does not simply change one's driving style. If that were true, button would never complain that his setup isn't quite right, he would just alter his driving style to match.

Also, racing drivers are competitive. If they felt it were possible to change their driving style and they felt that doing so would make them more competitive, they would do it in an instant. Think about the lengths they go to to gain every tenth, or even every hundredth or thounsandth of a second. Button's style clearly suits the Pirellis more. It is not a matter of pride. Again: One does not simply change one's driving style.

If he did mimic button's style, of course he would be slower; its not natural at all to be doing that. But he's got pace. He has outqualified button, and I believe inherently he is the faster driver. He just burns out his tyres quicker in the race. He is still competetive and able to win races, though I think the pirellis closed the gap between the 2 a bit, at least in race.

[godlameroso]

It's not so much him wrecking the tires, it's turning them on, it works well for Button. Hamilton on the other hand, works harder to get the tires on, and by the time they come on for him they're a little worse for wear, so he has to cope with it. Button gets the tires working quickly, so he has the grip, and his smooth style preserves them slightly better than Hamilton. Overall though, if both drivers got the tires to work equally well, Hamilton would outpace Button, no doubt about it. Let's see what happens in China, I believe the nature of the circuit and the compounds being used will favor Hamilton's driving over button. Turns 1, 5, and 6,7,8 will put plenty of heat in the tires.