Ask The Apex
- Thread starter Galahad
- Start date
I don't believe there is a maximum or minimum length defined in the regulations.
It's all about bodywork between the wheels, behind the wheels, etc.
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/technical_regulations/8695/fia.html
It's all about bodywork between the wheels, behind the wheels, etc.
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/technical_regulations/8695/fia.html
The regulations only specify the maximum width and height of the car, there is no minimum nor maximum length (though minimum lengths of certain parts - e.g. cockpit opening - are specified).
The differences between cars are comparatively small but potentially significant. I've just unearthed an estimate of 270mm being the difference between the McLaren (longest) and the Mercedes (shortest?), within a total wheelbase of around 3500mm:
http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=272781#p272781
If I may take this up again:
There have been 11, starting first in Monza in 1956 [Moss, Collins, Flockhart] and then three more in 1958. 5 of these podiums were Clark-Surtees-Hill and the last was in 1968 in America [Stewart, Hill, Surtees].
There are three other nations to achieve 1-2-3s. The first is the USA through 11 Indy500s from 1950-60.
The second is Italy with 6. The first was at Monza in 1950 [Farina, Ascari/Serafini, Fagioli] and the last at Zandvoort in 1953 [Ascari, Farina, Bonetto].
The final nation to have a 1-2-3 is France with three of them in the 1980s. The first was at Kyalami in 1980 [Arnoux, Laffite, Pironi], the second on France's perfect day at Paul Ricard in 1982 [Arnoux, Prost, Pironi] and the final one at Imola in 1983 [Tambay, Prost, Arnoux].
I reckon Germany may just get one in the next few years, too!
There have been 11, starting first in Monza in 1956 [Moss, Collins, Flockhart] and then three more in 1958. 5 of these podiums were Clark-Surtees-Hill and the last was in 1968 in America [Stewart, Hill, Surtees].
There are three other nations to achieve 1-2-3s. The first is the USA through 11 Indy500s from 1950-60.
The second is Italy with 6. The first was at Monza in 1950 [Farina, Ascari/Serafini, Fagioli] and the last at Zandvoort in 1953 [Ascari, Farina, Bonetto].
The final nation to have a 1-2-3 is France with three of them in the 1980s. The first was at Kyalami in 1980 [Arnoux, Laffite, Pironi], the second on France's perfect day at Paul Ricard in 1982 [Arnoux, Prost, Pironi] and the final one at Imola in 1983 [Tambay, Prost, Arnoux].
I reckon Germany may just get one in the next few years, too!
I don't know if this is relevant or not.
But in 2008, Ferrari had a long wheelbase, and McLaren had a short wheelbase. That season the short wheelbase seemed the way to go as it was better in the wet and cold conditions, and in 2008, there where a lot of conditions like that.
Contrast it to 2010, Mercedes had probably the shortest wheelbase but seemed struggle apart from in Monaco and in the wet.
But in 2008, Ferrari had a long wheelbase, and McLaren had a short wheelbase. That season the short wheelbase seemed the way to go as it was better in the wet and cold conditions, and in 2008, there where a lot of conditions like that.
Contrast it to 2010, Mercedes had probably the shortest wheelbase but seemed struggle apart from in Monaco and in the wet.
Possibly the most pertinent question ever put to the "Ask the Apex" thread...
Speaking for myself, I just read a lot. Books, magazines, anything I can get my hands on really. I've always had a passion for the history of motorsport and I devour as much as I possibly can. Fortunately, quite a lot of it sticks.
Being quite statistically minded I've been involved in various bits and bobs of research and number crunching of old data - one being the database for this very website - and you're almost bound to learn a lot from that sort of work. In fact I find my memory for F1 events long past is much better than it is of things that have happened in the last few years.
Most importantly though, I know where to go to find out the things I don't know!
Being quite statistically minded I've been involved in various bits and bobs of research and number crunching of old data - one being the database for this very website - and you're almost bound to learn a lot from that sort of work. In fact I find my memory for F1 events long past is much better than it is of things that have happened in the last few years.
Most importantly though, I know where to go to find out the things I don't know!
Thanks, I guess I'm going to have to read a whole lot more then
But where do you go to find those things out? I always google etc but never seem to find anything useful. Are there any sites you use?
http://www.statsf1.com/en/default.aspx
But don't tell anyone!
wow thanks! So much info...
Fenderman
Rooters Reporter
Unlike Galahad my head can't deal with dates and statistics although I love reading them, especially the stuff that gets put together on Clip. Not that I'm bad with numbers but I'm a hands on kind of bloke. I've been using computers since the nearest average bloke got was wardrobe sized ping-pong machine in the pub, so navigating the net has been fairly easy to learn (although I was a bit slow with the intricacies of social networking). Google, I've found works best when I keep my search terms short (sometimes even a single word can be more productive than a sentence!).
For some reason I pick up technical info' almost by osmosis. It just seeps in because I can visualise fettling engines, tweaking suspensions, messing with aero and a multitude of things mechanical. Probably goes back to watching one of my elder bro's build custom motorcycles and racing outfits Caught the bug and decades on still sucking in new information every day!
Oh, and as well as doing all my own maintenance on anything I've ever owned, I've had a life-long hobby of F1, sportscar and motorcycle model kit-building (Airfix to Minicraft, Revell to Tamiya, etc) and I've learnt a surprising amount about how stuff works from that.
Hope there's something useful to you in the above to compliment the experience of others here. No shortage of high quality knowledge and experience on Clip, I'm sure you'll agree.
If we were all the same, the world (and Clip) would be very dull.
For technical stuff this is the best site with the best forum: http://www.f1technical.net/
For general motorsport the Autosport forums are reasonably good, and the Nostalgia forum in particular is an absolute goldmine. Although the magazine isn't quite what it once was, my subscription gives me access to http://www.forix.com/, which is just about the most comprehensive stats database around.
The database at http://www.manipef1.com/database/ is also very user-friendly.
For general motorsport the Autosport forums are reasonably good, and the Nostalgia forum in particular is an absolute goldmine. Although the magazine isn't quite what it once was, my subscription gives me access to http://www.forix.com/, which is just about the most comprehensive stats database around.
The database at http://www.manipef1.com/database/ is also very user-friendly.
landogeorgelewis1
Champion Elect
@ Galahad
How many more overtakes have they been at this point of the season compared to last season?
Also if a F1 car hits the rev limiter too much would it affect the engine in anyway?
How many more overtakes have they been at this point of the season compared to last season?
Also if a F1 car hits the rev limiter too much would it affect the engine in anyway?
Anyone reckon we should call this thread "Ask Galahad"? 
You can compare in the Race Hub pages:
http://cliptheapex.com/pages/2011-overtaking-italy/
http://cliptheapex.com/pages/2010-overtaking-belgium/
The tables at the bottom contain the totals.
The limit is lower than the actual maximum the engine can rev to, so not really.
landogeorgelewis1
Champion Elect
Cheers Brogan,
The more i'm getting older the more i want to know about the Engineering part of F1, a year or so ago i wasn't really that bothered about that side of the sport all i wanted was good racing. But right now i want to learn more and you guys on here with the knowlegde you have are the reason i choose to join this forum.
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