Driver "equalisers"

[raymondu999]

Hey.

Many people say how the driver is more important in a race such as Monaco, and also in wet conditions. But we've seen in the past that this isn't entirely true, is it? We've seen in the past (and even now, perhaps) that there are characteristics in a car that can lead a car to be more competitive (relative to the competition) in the wet, and also in Monaco, and this surely helps to play a part, and still a massive one at that.

For example, someone like Jarno Trulli, who is massive in qualifying in Monaco, is still unable to make any advancements for Lotus up the grid in Monaco, so clearly his slower car is still holding him back.

I mean, if in wet/Monaco races the driver skill shows more, shouldn't we get the same set of people who are constantly on the podium, etc? Clearly it isn't the case

[Raftaar]

I have to say raymondu999, I am surprised that a forum member as senior as you is asking a question which, if anything, can only be called trivial

Please don't mind!! But first of all, the comparison is just too inappropriate!
Trulli and Webber are very good racing drivers! Both, and perticularly Mark, are superb qualifiers, and field-beaters on their own day.
ON THEIR OWN DAY, AND IN A GOOD CAR

I am sure, all of us F1 racing followers will accept, if anyone is racing at this level, he must be "really good, really quick". There are differences still, but these are only magnified w.r.t. each-other by respective car potential, inability to overtake, so on and so forth, and to some extent, confidence, and most of these are related to some extent. However wise or unwise we are, we are still human, and tend to go by solely the outcome of races.
Leave Trulli and Webber out of this, continue if you still wish to do so, that is what this forum is for!


[I mean, C'MON !!! No matter how well Mark does, he is still looked up to as a "softy" [-X , just because he drives fair, and doesn't give "SPECTACULAR ENTERTAINMENT" for the onlookers!! Give the man some credit !!! ]

[raymondu999]

Who mentioned Mark? What I meant was, why do we still say in a track like Monaco the driver can make a difference, and also in wet races, but this isn't the case.

[Raftaar]

Sorry for overeacting raymondu999, my mistake!!

I perhaps didn't read your post carefully, I am sorry!

Now that I did, I think, when this is said, it means, that such circuits, or conditions do demand less of outright pace or supiriority of a car, and more of the driver's precision, concentration & most of all his skill. That is why, Renault's Kubica at Monaco this year, or STR's Vettle at Monza in 2008 and many others have excelled at such situations, inspite of as good/ or better drivers competing in much superior cars, it only shows that they are good enough, or even "better" .

As for the Lotus, c'mon man, that car is, maybe at times, slower than even a GP2 car. Let's say, Hamilton were to swap cars with Trulli for one race, he won't be able to get ahead of Q1 in qualifying in that Lotus, whatever be the circuit.

Once again, sorry for my meaningless rant !!

[747heavy]

Monaco and racing in the wet, is "only" an equalizer for outright engine power - IMHO
Because under these conditions, you don´t need more then a certain amount of power, everything moe then this is meaningless, as it can´t be used.

Other characteristics of a car, such as downforce, good mechanical gip and driveability still count for a lot under these conditions, they can be complemented or/and amplified by a good driver.

o.k. these engine stats (Throttle usage during Qualyfying) are from 2000, but the underlying trend is still true for today.

WOT = wide open throttle, and means basicly time spend at more then 80% throttle.
so on tracks with a low value of WOT, engine power is less important.
As you can see Monte Carlo is the track with the lowest value for WOT, followed by Hungary (in 2000).

[raymondu999]

I think a more telling stat (though I don't know how we can get it) would be the average throttle position over an entire lap.

[747heavy]

sorry can´t help with this one (average throttle position), but maybe average/mean rpm of the engine will give an indication.

[raymondu999]

Indianapolis? Low revs? Is that due to the infield section?

[marcush.]

and even it is not an equalizer for outright power but for driveability of the powerunit...montecarlo rpm levels are over 1000rpm lower.

this springs up a question to me:
quite often we hear teams changing maps and reducing rpm limits...which cannot be easy ..as you will very soon reach a point where your next gear will simply not fit due to the revs too low to accelerate properly if you are shortshifting this should really have a big impact on how you achieve your laptime.(maintaining/ carrying speed instead of maximising longitudinal acceleration)..
so at least an engine with a btoader torque curve will be easier to nurse than a pointy sewing machine that has only a flashlight where there is all the power.