Can it be done???
So, the racing line improves acceleration and braking performance…what about a superior surface OFF the racing line that would provide differing levels of grip and more opportunity for passing?
Start of race – lack of rubber on racing line, slightly better braking on superior surface off line??
Mid race – Equal performance perhaps??
End of race – more marbles, variable performance??
What do you think?? The technology is available…the “pink” area coming up to some traffic lights in the UK is a superior braking surface…it also degrades tyre rubber too…
What about other suggestions…I was fully hoping Valencia was gonna be a good race, but after 10 laps there was sadly only one line as usual…very frustrating!!
The dirty part of the track is extremely difficult to pass on and the situation only deteriorates during the course of a race. Having a superior surface off-line would promote passing…and the only time LH came close to FM was turn 1 and closer in turn 3 Gaijin, and then passing was suspended due to the course in Valencia. LH’s fastest lap was very close to FM…1:38.884 and 1:38.708 respectively.
I like twitchiness in racing christos as it’s up to the driver to control it..I think we’ve seen a number of good passes this season as aresult of not hooking up onto the straight. I do however take on board and agree with the downforce issue. I also agree wholeheartedly with your comment concerning driver’s ability…Schhhh raised the bar in a number of areas and F1 drivers are now trying to follow suit.
The UK has special surfaces on approach to lights and crossings and any development in this area could lead to increased safety. Yes, tyre wear would increase, but that is for the driver to minimise. I’m not a great lover
Dunno why my fiancee pressed Submit after that but anyway, I’m not a great lover 
of boost buttons Julian, sorry.
I love Canada for it’s braking areas…maybe that’s the answer…rumble strips…thx Julian!!
I agree…get rid of as much aero as possible eyesinthe…concentrate on mechanical grip and closer racing…
Bordering on sober’s good….oil the cogs until they clog. Thanks SFM! Smokinnnnnnnnn
5 comments ↓
I have worked in F3000 and some other formulas and the basis of racing/testing is to have as many track parameters as near normal road conditions as possible so money spent via motorsport development directly assists global road car design, production and handling for the masses like you and me. Likewise having a clean or sticky track will never happen. Grip is not really a problem in overtaking it is that the cars are going literally too fast to be able to move off the racing line before you effectively run out of road. Valencia is a good track for overtaking when MClaren can catch Ferrari
The lack of overtaking was very disappointing indeed, but being a racer myself I prefer things as they are concerning grip conditions.
It’s the design parameters of the cars that need to change.
The debate concerning cutting down on the car’s downforce has been going on for a couple of decades with no action taken in this respect by the FIA.
In fact, trying to figure out a “permanent” way of adjusting the performance of the cars in the interests of safety they did exactly the opposite by introducing grooved tires and cutting down on mechanical grip.
Next year we will have a change in philosophy and we will have to wait and see what happens.
As predicted though the abolishment of traction control did little to aid overtaking, it makes the cars more twitch coming out of corners but that’s pretty much it.
That’s a good lesson to all those who stress that modern F1 drivers are toss compared to the “great heroes” of the past and can only drive hidden behind electronic gadgets.
F1 drivers are the best in the world and if they give them prehistoric cars to drive then they’ll drive them, they work with whatever they’re given, and as we’ve seen they do it well enough.
Interesting idea but as you say, tyre wear would increase far to highly. ( Not good for environment freaks). Could be used at Canada though, seeing as they can’t lay tarmac properly.
I think the aero reductions next year will allow better slipstreaming.
It might not work, but a trial F1 race with a technology that now extinct Cart series in America used was called, ” power to pass”. It was like a nitro system I think. It allowed 10 short bursts of extra hp for overtaking.
i will echo that fact that f1 biggest problem (in the on track action anyway) is too much aero dependency, the big auto manufacturers have all said they dont like waisting millions on aero r&d when it has no bearing what so ever on their production markets, and i think the rule changes for next year will be a first in a series of sweeping changes
Dunno if it can be done, but I bet Bernie’s tryin. I reckon they should get some of that white stuff they used at turn 10 in canada and lay it down on the race track. Massa’s pass was great there, two cars in one. I don’t know if it was just the track layout though, but it’s great in Canada every year.
Then again, they could just paint all race tracks so they all look like the yellow brick road or maybe rainbow colours. It would certainly distract the drivers!!!
Ahh don’t take my answer seriously, i’m only just bordering on sober.