2009 Testing - March (Jerez & Barcelona)

[siskue2005]

Video of the starting-procedure James Allen mentioned: Look at the Ferrari go, or look at the McLaren - slow. (rhymes!)

Also, Brawn pace!

I wouldn't get too excited, if you look carefully the Ferrari leaves the line a good half second before the McLaren - hence looking like it was much quicker.

no, they both left almost together
and moreover there is start lights on the circuit and i dont think its wise to jump start there
as it maybe the only time where they could justify the use of KERS

[Spencifer_Murphy]

No the Ferrari clearly moves shortly (maybe half a second maybe less) before the Mclaren. But it is bloody quick.

[Metar]

I think they both launch within a tenth of each other, but the Ferrari simply gets up to speed much faster..

[shir0]

well check this Rubens/F1.com Q&A snippet out:

Q: What is it that makes the car so fast?
RB: I think aerodynamically the car is quite strong. It is a good combination with the engine, in terms of power and drivability. It is running quite well with heavy fuel, low fuel and all sorts of fuel on the car.

Q: How about reliability?
RB: I’ve done 111 laps on the first day and another 114 on the second day - all with the same engine. In fact, it’s the same engine that Jenson (Button) already drove, so everything is quite smooth.

That's 225 laps for Rubens alone plus what Jenson did!

For sure VMM has the same great reliability to count on as well...they'll just have to sort other problems out as soon as they can.

Then again, if they can't...they can always use a lifeline... (call a FERRARI friend?)

[modbaraban]

Did anyone consider driver error?

[Moanlower]

Did anyone consider driver error?

Most centainly is. Besides speculating how many tenths Ferrari was faster off the line, does anyone has an answer if KERS is usefull during launches in the first 2 gears?

[ISLAMATRON]

Did anyone consider driver error?

Was that Lou or Kovi? Lou really needs to work on his starts... that has been a problem of his since GP2 as far back as I can remember.

[ISLAMATRON]

Did anyone consider driver error?

Most centainly is. Besides speculating how many tenths Ferrari was faster off the line, does anyone has an answer if KERS is usefull during launches in the first 2 gears?

probly not, if you can spin the wheels with the engine than why waste the limited stored KERS energy per lap by helping spin the wheels more. As soon as you can go full throttle without spinning the wheels than bang the KERS button... same with coming off the the corner onto the longest straight. With these big power cars everything is gription limited.

[Moanlower]

Did anyone consider driver error?

Most centainly is. Besides speculating how many tenths Ferrari was faster off the line, does anyone has an answer if KERS is usefull during launches in the first 2 gears?

probly not, if you can spin the wheels with the engine than why wate the limited stored KERS energy by lap by helping spin the wheels more. As soon as you can go full throttle without spinning the wheels than bang the KERS button... same with coming off the the corner onto the longest straight. with these big power cars everything is gription limited.

Exactly what I was thinking. It's just that some people were claiming KERS was used or is usefull during launches. Didn't make much sense. Thanks.

[timbo]

Exactly what I was thinking. It's just that some people were claiming KERS was used or is usefull during launches. Didn't make much sense. Thanks.

I think it depends on how KERS control unit work. Maybe engine + KERS combo may work as sort of traction control.
But yeah, at the first two gears I think adding more power is a bit useless.

[ISLAMATRON]

Exactly what I was thinking. It's just that some people were claiming KERS was used or is usefull during launches. Didn't make much sense. Thanks.

I think it depends on how KERS control unit work. Maybe engine + KERS combo may work as sort of traction control.
But yeah, at the first two gears I think adding more power is a bit useless.

SECU does not allow the engine power to be cut by any other way but by the reduction of throttle input. No traction control... thankfully.

KERS can be used on launches, but not till maybe near the top of 2nd gear.

[kilcoo316]

Most centainly is. Besides speculating how many tenths Ferrari was faster off the line, does anyone has an answer if KERS is usefull during launches in the first 2 gears?

It may certainly be useful as a way of better controlling torque to the rear wheels for the first 50 metres. You can get the effects of a very low rev start without the danger of an engine stall.


Two questions:

1. How much torque can an F1 car put through the back wheels (with zero aero load) before wheel spin occurs?

2. How much torque (not hp) can the KERs motor develop?







(Another question - now that the cars have large electric motors - can they self start?)

[Conceptual]

Did anyone consider driver error?

Most centainly is. Besides speculating how many tenths Ferrari was faster off the line, does anyone has an answer if KERS is usefull during launches in the first 2 gears?

probly not, if you can spin the wheels with the engine than why waste the limited stored KERS energy per lap by helping spin the wheels more. As soon as you can go full throttle without spinning the wheels than bang the KERS button... same with coming off the the corner onto the longest straight. With these big power cars everything is gription limited.

I dunno...

I think engaging the 80HP KERS first may give you enough of a start that you may get to WOT w/traction quicker. ESPECIALLY if the KERS unit is fed in through a CVT...

Ciro, does your brain spit out any maths concerning this?

Thanks!

[ISLAMATRON]

Most centainly is. Besides speculating how many tenths Ferrari was faster off the line, does anyone has an answer if KERS is usefull during launches in the first 2 gears?

It may certainly be useful as a way of better controlling torque to the rear wheels for the first 50 metres. You can get the effects of a very low rev start without the danger of an engine stall.


Two questions:

1. How much torque can an F1 car put through the back wheels (with zero aero load) before wheel spin occurs?

2. How much torque (not hp) can the KERs motor develop?

(Another question - now that the cars have large electric motors - can they self start?)

You would think that they wouldnt put in any bigger motor than the max output that they are allowed, which is what 60KW? Just need to know what RPM it is running to figure out the torque... but that is surely not enough hp or torque to spin those new hot slicks they got back there.

Possibly can self start the engine but 80 Hp is more than enuff to get the car stated so they can bump start the engine for sure.

[ISLAMATRON]

probly not, if you can spin the wheels with the engine than why waste the limited stored KERS energy per lap by helping spin the wheels more. As soon as you can go full throttle without spinning the wheels than bang the KERS button... same with coming off the the corner onto the longest straight. With these big power cars everything is gription limited.

I dunno...

I think engaging the 80HP KERS first may give you enough of a start that you may get to WOT w/traction quicker. ESPECIALLY if the KERS unit is fed in through a CVT...

Ciro, does your brain spit out any maths concerning this?

Thanks!

Max accell comes with just a little bit of wheel spin, 80 hp is not enuff to spin those big rear slicks.

Just think about how much throttle they give it to spin them up when they are warming up in formation lap.