Push to pass coming to F1?

[dds1]

Back in 1998, one team was developing a device to generate extra engine power from the heat produced during braking. Back then, the FIA vetoed the innovation. Now, however, the idea could be adopted to improve the spectacle in Formula One and enable more overtaking. FIA president Max Mosley is in favour of this, and so are the manufacturers.

Mosley suggests the introduction of regenerative braking systems, whereby heat generated under hard braking would be stored up in a battery to give the drivers an instant extra 60 horsepower for around five seconds, would improve the racing by enhancing overtaking opportunities. The drivers could use this increased power by pushing a 'boost button'. A similar system is already being used in the Champ Car World Series.

In Champ Car, the 'push to pass' or 'power to pass' system is controlled by increasing the turbo boost at the touch of a button for a maximum of 60-seconds during a race, taking and refining an idea first used by Formula Palmer Audi some years ago. The push to pass system has worked well in Champ Car for drivers both defending their position and trying to make a pass on the car in front.

Clearly overtaking is one of the issues that needs to be addressed in Formula One, after a survey carried out by the FIA revealed that more than 90 percent of race fans want to see more cars passing each other. The British Grand Prix last Sunday saw little passing save the start of the race off the line with drivers' all focusing on making 'passing' manoeuvres during the pits stops. Push to pass in Formula One along with massive changes to the aero-characteristics of the modern chassis are long overdue

(from racing-live.com)

Thoughts on this? Personally i'd rather see aero changes so that cars actually can get up close to overtake, and heaven forbid a return to slipstreaming.

[daydreamer]

Tend to agree with you in principle. BUT, we already have push to pass in F1, as the engine restrictions have meant that max revs are now only allowed in special circumstances.

Also with regeneration, there will be a maximum amount of energy storage - meaning that on hard braking circuits, you will have to use what is available fairly quickly, to enable you to regenerate more energy etc, which could prove interesting - therefore it is not a push to pass system, more a change in the available power at different parts of the circuit. As this will likely be managed differently by different teams, then cars will be naturally quicker at different parts of the circuit.

Therefore, we get simple performance variations - driver skill is maintained and we also get passing and hard defending.

All sounds pretty good!

[steviebee]

I like the technical aspect of this but it's a complex solution to a simple problem.

Aero is the biggest inhibiter of overtaking and the easiest thing to rectify.

Why complicate matters?

[castex]

Turbo button? What about chariot-style wheel blades?
I used to have an ace scalextric set with pickup trucks. If you managed to ram the special bumper on the back of your opponent a big flipper under his truck sprang out to launch him into the wall. Why don't they try that?

[FourWheelDrift]

I stil think the best solution to liven up F1 is when a driver pits they have to get out the car, then they are spun around 15 times on the spot by a pit member till they're dizzy then put back in the car.

[pib]

I think it's bonkers. Just build the bloody fastest car you can with the raunchiest petrol engines out there and plant 2X the number of trees. Increase the safety cell standards, return to slicks and ease back on the aero but don't eliminate it. Eliminate driver aides (fair enough) but maintain all the techno garble to keep F1 beautiful. FIA presidents will come and go just like Roman emperors. These are the people who used to tell us F1 passes should be rare, like football goals not NASCAR shuffle car (d) s. So 2004 or 5 may be the fastest F1 cars ever for some time?

[tinman0]

FourWheelDrift said:

I stil think the best solution to liven up F1 is when a driver pits they have to get out the car, then they are spun around 15 times on the spot by a pit member till they're dizzy then put back in the car.

I think you are being silly.

I mean, when you step out of the car you might be at a different angle to when they stop twisting you - for instance, how are you going to ensure they don't do 15 & 1/4 rather than 15. Also, would it be someone in the pits or an FIA offical who does the spinning. You also have to take into account whether the driver is allowed any help to get back to the car and strap himself in again.

[williamp]

tinman0 said:

FourWheelDrift said: I stil think the best solution to liven up F1 is when a driver pits they have to get out the car, then they are spun around 15 times on the spot by a pit member till they're dizzy then put back in the car. I think you are being silly. I mean, when you step out of the car you might be at a different angle to when they stop twisting you - for instance, how are you going to ensure they don't do 15 & 1/4 rather than 15. Also, would it be someone in the pits or an FIA offical who does the spinning. You also have to take into account whether the driver is allowed any help to get back to the car and strap himself in again.

Easy. You could rig a drill (located above the drivers head) with a polishing device which turns the driver on a turntable. Thse FIA can regulare the power and revolutions of the drill, so a quick driver will get slower (or more) turns, evening up the race nicely