Why do they declare the weights of F1 Cars before the race?
Discussion
I know it's supposed to be to give the fuel loads, but why don't they just give the fuel loads instead?
Does the figure allow for any variation in fuel load if drivers are different weights, or they have less water in their drinks bottle etc?
Thought I'd ask as I was surprised to see Webber pit before Hamilton yesterday, Webber was predicted to go two (?) laps further. Thoughts?
Does the figure allow for any variation in fuel load if drivers are different weights, or they have less water in their drinks bottle etc?
Thought I'd ask as I was surprised to see Webber pit before Hamilton yesterday, Webber was predicted to go two (?) laps further. Thoughts?
The cars are generally all designed to meet the minimum weight limit, and in a lot of cases are actually considerably lighter, allowing the team to apply ballast to strategic points in the car to improve the handling balance for any particular circuit.
I would say Hamilton either went longer either because the Merc engine is more efficient, or because they were less conservative than Red Bull with the amount of fuel they had remaining when they pitted, perhaps because they have less to lose in terms of championship placing!
I would say Hamilton either went longer either because the Merc engine is more efficient, or because they were less conservative than Red Bull with the amount of fuel they had remaining when they pitted, perhaps because they have less to lose in terms of championship placing!
entropy said:
The stupidest thing ever.
I hate it. There should be unpredicatably and unknowns and now with published fuel loads you can now predict the outcome for most races.
Numpties should make an effort to learn 'our sport'.
sort of agree with you, but if we go back to not knowing, we should also dump Q3 with fuelI hate it. There should be unpredicatably and unknowns and now with published fuel loads you can now predict the outcome for most races.
Numpties should make an effort to learn 'our sport'.
I thought they did give the fuel loads.
Don't they have the simulated grid with the car's with the fuel load kg, then the times fuel corrected and then the page flicks to a list of what laps the cars will pit in.
I don't recall seeing the complete weight of the car before the race.
Are you talking about on the programme before the race or on a website?
Don't they have the simulated grid with the car's with the fuel load kg, then the times fuel corrected and then the page flicks to a list of what laps the cars will pit in.
I don't recall seeing the complete weight of the car before the race.
Are you talking about on the programme before the race or on a website?
I quite like the fact that we get to see that say the Pole Sitter is only going to go 12 laps whilst everyone else is aiming to go to 22 laps etc. i.e. more of an indication of their true speed, and of course when for example vettel gets pole despite having more fuel than the next 3-4 cars, you know he's got a fast set of wheels.
entropy said:
The stupidest thing ever.
I hate it. There should be unpredicatably and unknowns and now with published fuel loads you can now predict the outcome for most races.
Numpties should make an effort to learn 'our sport'.
Most of the teams already know the fuel levels as they time the opposition whilst they refuel ready for Q3. It was only the poor viewer at home left in the dark.I hate it. There should be unpredicatably and unknowns and now with published fuel loads you can now predict the outcome for most races.
Numpties should make an effort to learn 'our sport'.
Jasandjules said:
I quite like the fact that we get to see that say the Pole Sitter is only going to go 12 laps whilst everyone else is aiming to go to 22 laps etc. i.e. more of an indication of their true speed, and of course when for example vettel gets pole despite having more fuel than the next 3-4 cars, you know he's got a fast set of wheels.
BUt then you get Vettel's pole lap in Silverstone - whilst awesome as it was - with all things being perfect it was game, set and match on Saturday evening.The publication of weights does take a bit of the excitement away. With Valencia coming up, I suppose Alonso's sponsors would have asked for a strong showing in the previous race, especially given the poor seat sale so far. It used to be the same with Ferrari and Monza.
But it does stop that confusion during the early part of the race, at least for me. Whilst it was rather obvious to everyone that Alonso was running light I was concerned about the relative fuel loads of Webber and LH. It was nice to be able to concentrate on the racing for the laps before everyone has their pit stop.
But as someone else has pointed out, the lap predictions were a bit out with Alonso coming in a lap, maybe two, before expected. (I wonder if the bloke on the front offside wheel was expecting him later?)
Whilst refueling has added a certain unpredictability to the races, I must admit to being glad it is going. Perhaps one of the reasons there is less overtaking on the circuit is that there is more overtaking during the pit stops. The times we've seen totally dominant cars cruising around in the first part of the race only to put in a few PBs just before the pit stops and then, when the bloke in front has pitted, taking another few tenths off. Once in front, the dominent car will them slow to the original lap times.
Whilst there will still be pit stops, the timing of them will be much more flexible.
But it does stop that confusion during the early part of the race, at least for me. Whilst it was rather obvious to everyone that Alonso was running light I was concerned about the relative fuel loads of Webber and LH. It was nice to be able to concentrate on the racing for the laps before everyone has their pit stop.
But as someone else has pointed out, the lap predictions were a bit out with Alonso coming in a lap, maybe two, before expected. (I wonder if the bloke on the front offside wheel was expecting him later?)
Whilst refueling has added a certain unpredictability to the races, I must admit to being glad it is going. Perhaps one of the reasons there is less overtaking on the circuit is that there is more overtaking during the pit stops. The times we've seen totally dominant cars cruising around in the first part of the race only to put in a few PBs just before the pit stops and then, when the bloke in front has pitted, taking another few tenths off. Once in front, the dominent car will them slow to the original lap times.
Whilst there will still be pit stops, the timing of them will be much more flexible.
So... for next year, what will be the starting weight of the car - how much fuel is needed?
Different tracks will need different loads depending on the % throttle time, gradients, etc (wet races needing even less).
But what will the lower and upper range be? Is there any material difference in fuel density (I know it's cooled to some extent)?
Base weight+Ballast+Driver+Fuel = ?
Different tracks will need different loads depending on the % throttle time, gradients, etc (wet races needing even less).
But what will the lower and upper range be? Is there any material difference in fuel density (I know it's cooled to some extent)?
Base weight+Ballast+Driver+Fuel = ?
matt frost said:
I thought they did give the fuel loads.
Don't they have the simulated grid with the car's with the fuel load kg, then the times fuel corrected and then the page flicks to a list of what laps the cars will pit in.
I don't recall seeing the complete weight of the car before the race.
Are you talking about on the programme before the race or on a website?
They quote the total weight of the car, not the volume of fuel. While they're closely linked,t hey're not actually the same thing. I was wondering why they don't declare litres instead of kg. Having thought about it, it's probably because they don't know exactly what was burned off during Q3. Except they probably do know, I'm sure they have extremely accurate fuel gauges.Don't they have the simulated grid with the car's with the fuel load kg, then the times fuel corrected and then the page flicks to a list of what laps the cars will pit in.
I don't recall seeing the complete weight of the car before the race.
Are you talking about on the programme before the race or on a website?
plg101 said:
So... for next year, what will be the starting weight of the car - how much fuel is needed?
Different tracks will need different loads depending on the % throttle time, gradients, etc (wet races needing even less).
But what will the lower and upper range be? Is there any material difference in fuel density (I know it's cooled to some extent)?
Base weight+Ballast+Driver+Fuel = ?
presumably a side effect of going to full distance fueling will be that Q3 will revert to low fuel and devil take the hindmost!? Otherwise Q3 really will be a joke as the cars wallow around with their tanks full! & tanks will have to be scaled to cover the race + Q3!Different tracks will need different loads depending on the % throttle time, gradients, etc (wet races needing even less).
But what will the lower and upper range be? Is there any material difference in fuel density (I know it's cooled to some extent)?
Base weight+Ballast+Driver+Fuel = ?
It would be interesting if they continue to publish post quali weights as that would suggest how thirsty the various cars are: as has been suggested by someone else; I'm firmly of the view that the Mercedes is rather good on economy, the Ferrari and Renault less so
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff