F1 moving to 18" wheels

[anonymous-user]

https://www.racefans.net/2020/06/04/new-18-inch-ty...

F1 has of course banned new and better technology when it's too good - see e.g., the BT46B etc.

But now, for the first time ever, F1 is ditching established technology, which works well, in favour of technology which is cheerfully admitted to be worse.

Big wheels make you slower - as I have been saying for many years to anyone who'll listen.

Paying more money to make your car slower marks you out as a clown, in my view. You're no driver, just a tt.

One of the many reasons to admire Caterham is that they are the only car company in the world who charge extra for smaller wheels ...

The admitted reason is to make F1 cars "more relevant" to the general public, most of whom prefer big wheels, and the bigger the better.

Sad day when F1, for so long a bastion of using technology to increase performance, is now aligning its standards with those of fashion-led muppets.

[gazza285]

It’s big money entertainment, what do you expect?

[Om]

tommy1973s said:

The admitted reason is to make F1 cars "more relevant" to the general public, most of whom prefer big wheels, and the bigger the better..

So, are they going to move to a SUV silhouette series as well?

[The spinner of plates]

gazza285 said:

It’s big money entertainment, what do you expect?

For it to be a sport first?

For many the 100m would be more ‘entertaining’ if the runners had to wear diving flippers...

Competitive sport is about pushing to be the fastest, the best etc. Not pandering to the whims of Joe Moron.

Edited by The spinner of plates on Saturday 17th July 20:08

Edited by The spinner of plates on Saturday 17th July 20:08

[PDP76]

Honestly I’m not sure how the bigger wheels will affect them.
Sure they are on small rims but the size of the tyres on them when you are up and close is crazy!
Sure the pure size of the tyre is part of the suspension set up.
That’s all they will adjust to take in the new size rim.

[Debaser]

tommy1973s said:

https://www.racefans.net/2020/06/04/new-18-inch-ty...

F1 has of course banned new and better technology when it's too good - see e.g., the BT46B etc.

But now, for the first time ever, F1 is ditching established technology, which works well, in favour of technology which is cheerfully admitted to be worse.

Big wheels make you slower - as I have been saying for many years to anyone who'll listen.

Paying more money to make your car slower marks you out as a clown, in my view. You're no driver, just a tt.

One of the many reasons to admire Caterham is that they are the only car company in the world who charge extra for smaller wheels ...

The admitted reason is to make F1 cars "more relevant" to the general public, most of whom prefer big wheels, and the bigger the better.

Sad day when F1, for so long a bastion of using technology to increase performance, is now aligning its standards with those of fashion-led muppets.

It’s funny how much you hate large wheels.

[anonymous-user]

Large wheels with low profile tyres have major advantages on a racing car, they are not driving on public roads which require some significant tyre flex to accommodate.

F1 is very much an anomaly in racing car tyre design, most racing cars use much lower profile tyres.

[gazza285]

tommy1973s said:

But now, for the first time ever, F1 is ditching established technology, which works well, in favour of technology which is cheerfully admitted to be worse.

First time ever?

Same series that banned turbochargers, four wheel drive, active aerodynamics, ABS, traction control, and four wheel steering?

[Sebring440]

gazza285 said:

First time ever?

Same series that banned turbochargers, four wheel drive, active aerodynamics, ABS, traction control, and four wheel steering?

^^^^^^ This. ^^^^^^

I would ignore the OP and his opinionated bo||ox. He's only trying to push his blog.

[anonymous-user]

tommy1973s said:

Paying more money to make your car slower marks you out as a clown, in my view. You're no driver, just a tt.

You probably don't realise it, but you sound like a proper ahole.

[markcoznottz]

Funny he should mention the bt46, I liked the low profile fronts on that era of car. The Bridgestone era with a stupidly proportioned tyre with grooves on, what were they thinking. Why make even the tyres look anti design when you control the rule book.

[talksthetorque]

With the amount of downforce being created nowadays, I would imagine that larger wheels with a shorter sidewall would be easier to control the lateral forces, and less likely to fail through vibrations.
It will be an ever narrowing window for Pirelli to design a tyre with the working temperature window/longevity/safety/grip level demands all pulling in different directions.
With the 18 inch there will be less sidewall movement so everything else becomes easier to aim for within acceptable safety margins from this point on.

Will be interesting to see if they go over the serrated kerbs and sausages quite so readily in FP1, or if Anusol become a title sponsor for the Haas team