F1technical.net

Wow, resurrecting a year old thread!

Did you read my post a couple of posts before yours? There was no paddle. They just changed (switched) brake manufacturers.

There was no paddle.

Yes, i did. Actually I was asking about the third paddle in the McLaren cars back in 97, 98 which Mika/DC drove.

MSC used the magic pedal again today...and no one really knows what it really is

dkt wrote:Yes, i did. Actually I was asking about the third paddle in the McLaren cars back in 97, 98 which Mika/DC drove.

It was a brake pedal that only braked one wheel. They only had room for the one pedal (old clutch) and the rules didn't allow any sort of switching so they put it on right rear on a track with more rights and vice versa. It allowed the car to turn tighter. Its called a "fiddle" brake and used on virtually all tractors, but tractors have them for both sides. They tried to make it switchable for 98, but it was outlawed after the first race.

mantikos wrote:MSC used the magic pedal again today...and no one really knows what it really is

I believe the radio message was "Magic diff setting"

Edit: I re-listened to the audio. All that is said over the radio is "Diff magic"

I think that is just a "M" setting on the knob and say "Magic" is just a method to be sure the driver didn't misheard the letter.

Federico wrote:I think that is just a "M" setting on the knob and say "Magic" is just a method to be sure the driver didn't misheard the letter.

Setting to tighten the diff friction plates when the tyres start to go off to even out traction capability?

I think that Hamilton used this setting just before his gearbox hydraulic system blocked leaving him with no gears.
It was probably bits from the dif friction plates that were damaged when he skimmed the wall in qualy.
Choice was change the gearbox and lose grid position or risk a blockage.

Not replacing the gearbox and taking a grid place penalty was probably to ensure the move by Hamilton to Merc.
Such a diff failure was predictable after the wall incident and would almost certainly result in a DNF.