Ask an F1 Engineer anything

[AnonymousF1]

CheesecakeRunner said:

Great thread.

What idea, or solution to a problem do you wish you’d thought of?

Thanks. Sorry, I don't understand the question.

[Mark V GTD]

AnonymousF1 said:

Long-term forum member and long-term engineer working in F1.

Thank you for starting this thread. Are you currently or have you ever been a member of a teams pit crew (by that I mean the team dealing directly with the pit stop tyre changes)?

[AnonymousF1]

Oilchange said:

Great idea for a thread, thanks for stepping up!

Also, well done all in F1 for making 2020 happen, quite an achievement considering but the season being so eventful was really something.

Q. I managed to get to Portugal this year and nothing would please me more than F1 pitching up there for GPs in years to come. How likely is this in your opinion?

I enjoyed it too! And hope we go back soon. However I don't know when or if, that's up to the people who manage the commercial aspects of the sport.

[Exige77]

AnonymousF1 said:

CheesecakeRunner said:

Great thread.

What idea, or solution to a problem do you wish you’d thought of?

Thanks. Sorry, I don't understand the question.

I think maybe he means things like F-duct, double diffuser, DAS or blown diffuser ?

[cuprabob]

How did you feel having to deliver the infamous message to Felipe "Fernando is faster than you"

[AnonymousF1]

entropy said:

How much does the driver influence car development today? Is it biased towards the lead/particular driver.

How much influence can be taken from driver's subjectivity against objective data?

I think I've answered the first part already.

The driver's opinion is often used to give direction for what to look for in the data. The data is then used to substantiate what's going on and offer potential directions to develop the car and its setup.

[marine boy]

AnonymousF1 said:

I don't read forums too much - forums to me are a knowledge source, for asking questions and getting answers, or searching for them.

Sometimes someone will spot a piece of analysis or discussion online, about a part we've designed or worked on, and those can be interesting to see what level the general knowledge outside of F1 is at. Sometimes surprisingly high.

Great thread OP, hope you don't mind me joining your party with the occasional post,

In a previous F1 engineering role I did 'competitor design analysis' at one of the top teams

Was quite often asked, how did I find out so much about what the other teams were up to

Never let on my final check before sending out a factory wide report was to read the chatter on one particular F1 forum (sorry, not this forum)

Thanks to the keen eyes of 100's of F1 fans around the world I'd often appear to know more than I knew and agree the knowledge level outside of F1 can be surprisingly high

A question for you, just to clarify what type of engineer best describes yourself? ie performance, design, aero, race etc and are you factory or track based?

[CheesecakeRunner]

AnonymousF1 said:

CheesecakeRunner said:

Great thread.

What idea, or solution to a problem do you wish you’d thought of?

Thanks. Sorry, I don't understand the question.

No problem. I work as a software engineer, and often a novel solution to a problem will be produced and I sit back an think “Wow, I wish I’d come up with that”. Is there anything like that for you?

[rdjohn]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Wow, i think the idea was to ask the odd question, not Troll him.

[Fantomas]

Couple of questions...

Do drivers tent to mix with crew/engineers “off duty” during Grand Prix weekend or the majority of them sticks together ?

During your career have you ever been good pale with particular drivers ?

[pauloroberto]

If you're enjoying this thread, I would recommend: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mechanic-Secret-World-F1-...

It is a few years old but I got it for Christmas and it gave a different perspective on F1.

[resolve10]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Pierre Gasly is a sub-19 min 5k runner.

Source: Pierre Gasly https://www.instagram.com/p/B7bpyEQi1ad/

Also, I think Kimi is in better shape than you think. Fancy giving this a go? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUj_WTBJAa4

[C2Red]

pauloroberto said:

If you're enjoying this thread, I would recommend: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mechanic-Secret-World-F1-...

It is a few years old but I got it for Christmas and it gave a different perspective on F1.

His YouTube channel is quite good, and on occasion he’ll read extracts from the book.

[Gary C]

How much sleep do you get over a race weekend

[robinessex]

I'm always reading of the sensitivity of the cars to aero, and ride height. Why then do the drivers then promptly take them out, and fly 6" high over the kerbs?

Edited by robinessex on Tuesday 26th January 17:50

[mikecassie]

Have you ever seen a car appear at testing and think 'That'll never work' but it goes out and surprises you how fast it actually went?

[Sandpit Steve]

C2Red said:

pauloroberto said:

If you're enjoying this thread, I would recommend: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mechanic-Secret-World-F1-...

It is a few years old but I got it for Christmas and it gave a different perspective on F1.

His YouTube channel is quite good, and on occasion he’ll read extracts from the book.

+1 for Elvis. Great book and informative YouTube channel.

When there isn’t a pandemic on, he now makes his living as a public speaker and conference facilitator, talking to companies about how to create high-performing teams.

[Dashnine]

Sandpit Steve said:

C2Red said:

pauloroberto said:

If you're enjoying this thread, I would recommend: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mechanic-Secret-World-F1-...

It is a few years old but I got it for Christmas and it gave a different perspective on F1.

His YouTube channel is quite good, and on occasion he’ll read extracts from the book.

+1 for Elvis. Great book and informative YouTube channel.

When there isn’t a pandemic on, he now makes his living as a public speaker and conference facilitator, talking to companies about how to create high-performing teams.

And is the new grease monkey (I mean mechanic) on the new UK based Wheeler Dealers, filmed at Bicester Heritage.

[VladD]

Hi.

Martin Brundle occasionally talks about how much force it takes to push the brake pedal in a F1 car. However, I thought all F1 car use brake by wire these days, so if the driver isn't actually having to force hydraulic fluid through pipes, why is the big force needed?

I'm guessing I'm missing something obvious, so apologies in advance for any required face palm.

Cheers.

[VladD]

AnonymousF1 said:

egomeister said:

What's the best F1 party you have been to?

Thursday night at Monaco.

Have you never been to the Fred Flintsone themed party at Yas Marina? I believe it's known as the Abu Dhabi do.