The $50,000 steering wheels of Formula 1
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The $50,000 steering wheels of Formula 1
It wouldn't be Formula 1 without some kind of constant friction between racers, team owners and organizers, and this year's kerfuffle involves steering wheels that force drivers to push more buttons than a 747 pilot having a seizure.
With the season's first race in Australia this weekend, drivers are still getting used to the layout required to handle the newest rule changes. Steering wheels of an F1 car are the only pieces of instrumentation inside the vehicle, and as safety and racing technology has advanced, they've become overgrown with controls.
Made from carbon fiber, each wheel can cost $50,000; they have to unlatch in less than five seconds for emergencies, and the weight-saving cutouts along the bottom are possible because they never turn more than 3/4ths of a circle from lock to lock.
Each F1 team has a different setup, but the basic layout is similar: Buttons and toggle switches control on-off functions, from this year's adjustable rear wing to engaging neutral gear. The dials can be used to vary torque, differentials, brakes, clutches, engine rev limits and anything else a team can dream up. The display on top relays shifting point alerts and messages from race managers, and if the drivers need to hydrate while in the cockpit, they can even control their in-helmet beverage system with the "drink" button.
The revival of the KERS hybrid system has also added a button and dial back to the controls — and FIA also only allows the adjustable rear wing to be deployed in certain places along the track.That's led Lotus Renault driver Nick Heidfeld to say the wheels force drivers to "play piano" while racing, and that "the ****-up potential is extremely high."
To give an even clearer idea of how much distracted driving goes on in F1, here's a Ferrari video walking through its wheel for last season — absent the KERS system and the fussing over movable rear wings. Drivers association chair Sebastian Vettel has already suggested that unless FIA curbsthe steering wheel sprawl, drivers could just hit the button labeled "strike."
With the season's first race in Australia this weekend, drivers are still getting used to the layout required to handle the newest rule changes. Steering wheels of an F1 car are the only pieces of instrumentation inside the vehicle, and as safety and racing technology has advanced, they've become overgrown with controls.
Made from carbon fiber, each wheel can cost $50,000; they have to unlatch in less than five seconds for emergencies, and the weight-saving cutouts along the bottom are possible because they never turn more than 3/4ths of a circle from lock to lock.
Each F1 team has a different setup, but the basic layout is similar: Buttons and toggle switches control on-off functions, from this year's adjustable rear wing to engaging neutral gear. The dials can be used to vary torque, differentials, brakes, clutches, engine rev limits and anything else a team can dream up. The display on top relays shifting point alerts and messages from race managers, and if the drivers need to hydrate while in the cockpit, they can even control their in-helmet beverage system with the "drink" button.
The revival of the KERS hybrid system has also added a button and dial back to the controls — and FIA also only allows the adjustable rear wing to be deployed in certain places along the track.That's led Lotus Renault driver Nick Heidfeld to say the wheels force drivers to "play piano" while racing, and that "the ****-up potential is extremely high."
To give an even clearer idea of how much distracted driving goes on in F1, here's a Ferrari video walking through its wheel for last season — absent the KERS system and the fussing over movable rear wings. Drivers association chair Sebastian Vettel has already suggested that unless FIA curbsthe steering wheel sprawl, drivers could just hit the button labeled "strike."
I had no idea they cost that much! :unsure:
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This is exactly why I love F1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4_0WATGrKM
$50,000 gone in one second. I have nothing against sports but a football or soccer ball surely wouldn't be worth so much in one piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4_0WATGrKM
$50,000 gone in one second. I have nothing against sports but a football or soccer ball surely wouldn't be worth so much in one piece.
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I definitely flinched when the next car ran that thing over. How sad. I know it's meant to be disposable like that, but rather than tossing it, couldn't he instead just toss it on the hood or something?
And how cool was it that they just pulled the damaged car out with a crane!! At first I had no idea what it was (helicopter, some sort of lift, crane, what???), but that was very cool to see it just lifted out of the way like that.
And how cool was it that they just pulled the damaged car out with a crane!! At first I had no idea what it was (helicopter, some sort of lift, crane, what???), but that was very cool to see it just lifted out of the way like that.
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They toss them when they're really really upset. It's sort of an impulse from the shock. In this case, Rubens Barrichello hit a tilted sewage cap that caused his rear end to slip and hit the wall. When they're going over 100mph and that happens, it's sort of like getting punched in the head.
Yeah isn't the crane awesome?! Gotta love how compact Monaco GP is. I love it for that very reason. It's hands down my favorite GP alongside Singapore.
Yeah isn't the crane awesome?! Gotta love how compact Monaco GP is. I love it for that very reason. It's hands down my favorite GP alongside Singapore.