Exactly How Much Slower are the 2014 Formula 1 Cars?

"Tim (Fractal Footwork)" (fractalfootwork) 03/05/2014 at 16:41 • Filed to: Formula 1, Bahrain, Pre-Season Testing, OppositeLock

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Before you and your pals go off knocking around the new 2014 Formula 1 chassis for being slow enough to stop the world, it may be best to attain some statistical data to back up your arguments.

What Changed in 2014?

In 2014, a new set of constraints breached the F1 teams and the cars they were producing. Notable changes include: a lower and potentially safer nose, a narrower front wing, a new mandated exhaust outlet position, a reduction in the allowable use of engines and gearboxes throughout the season, a fuel limit of 100kg, a fuel-pace limit, a 15,000 rpm rev limit, and a new power-unit comprised of a 1.6L turbo V6 mated with engineering magic to an electrical storage system that generates electricity from braking and by slowing the turbo off-throttle, capable preemptively spinning the turbo and directing approximately 160 bhp directly to the rear wheels for around 33 seconds of each lap.

These are all things that can potentially impede aero efficiency, downforce, sound quality, traction, tire degradation, looks, and most importantly speed. Some respected commentators predicted that these new 2014 F1 chassis would be up to a massive 6 seconds a lap slower than the outgoing F1 chassis.

At least, that's what we've heard...

How Much Slower are the 2014 Cars?

This chart from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! compares Nico Rosberg's pole lap of the Bahrain International Circuit to Felipe Massa's fastest lap from this year's pre-season testing in Bahrain. The 2014 Williams FW36 chassis is less than 1 second slower than last year's pole lap (.928 seconds slower to be exact).

More than likely, Felipe Massa was on a qualifying simulation when he set the 1:33.258 during pre-season testing, and this is only pre-season testing!

To put this into perspective, during the 2013 Qualifying session for the Bahrain Gran Prix, Valteri Bottas was eliminated in the FW35 Williams chassis in Q2 in P15 with a time of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . If the 2014 Williams chassis were to compete in the 2013 Bahrain GP qualifying session, it would have finished in P9, but to be fair, the 2013 FW35 was a bit of a dog...

So while the 2014 F1 cars are only-just slower now, they definitely won't be in 6 months.

Where Do the 2014 Cars Make Up the Difference?

As you may have gathered from the table above, the 2014 chassis are much faster on the straights, but lose time in the corners.

While the engines themselves may be down on power (750bhp with the 2013 V8s compared to 700bhp with the 2014 Turbo V6s), the new V6s come with a severe increase in torque, are equipped with a turbo with no turbo-lag, and are matted to a massively powerful Energy Recover System (ERS).

The 2014 F1 chassis also suffer from a loss of downforce, mostly due to the loss of the blown diffuser and rear beam wing. The beam wing was important because it connected the upwash of air between the diffuser and the rear wing, effectively creating one large upwash; this has partially been mimicked in 2014 with teams blowing the exhaust just above or below a Y75 winglet (also commonly known as a Monkey Seat).

McLaren have offered an innovative solution to this problem by molding their rear wishbone suspension into what looks in cross-section much like a mushroom. This suspension does not create mechanical grip, as one may suspect, but instead creates an aerodynamic effect of increasing the low pressure just behind the diffuser, helping it create a larger upwash of air. The Woking team's solution is currently going by a few different names, some including Wishbone Wings, Butterfly Suspension, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Only time will tell if the MP4-29's suspension solution is effective.

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The 2014 Pirelli tire compounds are supposed to last longer in anticipation of the high torque output of the new engines, so we should see less tire conservation.

However, we will see a greater amount of fuel conservation, but the drivers inputs should remain in anger. The new power units are hooked up to a computer that will change engine maps; these will change throughout the race by a knob on the car's steering wheel at the engineers' request. We should see less driver-led conservation (short-shifting, less throttle pressure, etc), and more computer-led conservation and actual racing.

As for the sound? The 18s of thousands of RPMs have been axed in favor of fuel consumption, but while the sound level has decreased, the sound quality has greatly improved.

The only thing you really need to know : With the new "torquey" engines, more sliding will be initiated on corner exit; because of this, the Monaco Gran Prix should be the most exciting in years.

I sure am excited for 2014 F1 season, are you?

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[Images from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

SnowBallin > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 09:46

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No I am not excited

F1 is supposed to be pinnacle motorsport. The best of the best. Right now, F1 cars are not running to their full potential and that is simply boring.

It's like telling an NFL linebacker that he can't tackle someone at 100%. Oh wait, they hinder NFL player performance as well.

This latest iteration of F1 rules is just another example of the pussification of sports.

dinobot666 > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 09:46

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I said I wouldn't watch F-1 when they came out with those stupid grooved tires a few years ago. Welp, I watched anyway.

When I first heard the new V6 engine package for F-1 I said I wouldn't watch it, because these engines sound atrocious. I'll probably watch anyway. :)

doodon2whls > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 09:48

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Interesting to see that they are not as quick, but they are faster at many points on the track.... At least @ Bahrain... This might just indicate the that the teams are still sorting the chassis on their cars attempting to achieve the best compromise between aero balance, suspension kinematics, engine calibration (torque curve versus fuel consumption) and chassis control forces.

Hey, at least they didn't introduce a new tire manufacturer this year ! That would have sunk the series, IMHO.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 10:40

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Why is the difference in top speed so large?

wrblue11 > SnowBallin 03/05/2014 at 11:24

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whine whine, cry, cry... sorry things aren't done in the "back in my day" manner you so wish for... i believe the term for things moving forward is evolution...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > McChiken116 - Patrick H. 03/05/2014 at 11:28

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Aerodynamic limitations. The old cars had a lot more downforce, so had consequently more drag on the straights. The new cars have much less.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > dinobot666 03/05/2014 at 11:31

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I'd try and hear one in person before making any judgements. I thought the old V8s sounded a bit tinny and weak just having watched the TV coverage.

Hearing them in real life was an eye-opener. They're truly bonkers-loud. You can hear them start up from the other side of the circuit, and they hurt your ears as they go past. There's also a lot more character to them than the simple whine that comes across on the TV.

I'd be willing to bet the new engines are the same.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 11:34

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I rather like the new cars. The only annoyance I have is with the 100kg fuel limit. They've just swapped out tyre management (disliked by many last year) for fuel management.

It just means you won't get pilots racing to their full capacity. I suppose it'll somewhat-artificially create exciting racing, with one car on a slower fuel map having to defend from someone who's got a bit more juice left.

I fear you'll get people coasting for the last few laps rather than racing. That's not an exciting thing to watch.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/05/2014 at 11:46

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Ahh, well that's a cool trade off I guess

brell > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 12:03

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"the sound quality has greatly improved" in my opinion. Fixed it.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > McChiken116 - Patrick H. 03/05/2014 at 12:05

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Should promote passing as well, as there's less of a wake coming off the cars disrupting the ones behind.

That part of the rules I'm ok with :)

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > SnowBallin 03/05/2014 at 13:43

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Only problem with that.

And then nobody will be able to drive them. Just Crash at the start and everywhere else.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 13:49

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It would deflate the arguments of those who say racers are not athletes if drivers were literally beat up and knocked unconscious by their own cars.

SnowBallin > wrblue11 03/05/2014 at 14:07

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Evolution means building some better. In racing terms, evolution means building a car that goes around a track faster than ever. Although F1 technology is cutting edge from an engineering standpoint, the current cars are simply not faster than before.

That is NOT evolution

SnowBallin > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 14:09

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Engineers will figure out a way to go fast. Give them full autonomy to work their magic

wrblue11 > SnowBallin 03/05/2014 at 14:49

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if faster is what F1 wanted, they would do that. faster doesnt mean most evolved. i may be in the minority, but i rather watch an exciting race, a race where cars, drivers, and manufactures are put to the test. this is panning out to be a pretty epic season, with the door left wide open for anyone. last year at this time everyone was bitching about just handing vettel the trophy again.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/05/2014 at 17:08

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From all the talk after the tests, word is that the rb10 is one fast car. The cornering speeds made everyone's jaw drop. When Renault fix their damn powerplant, rbr will be beating last year's times.

For Sweden > SnowBallin 03/05/2014 at 18:54

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If you want to watch the pinnacle of motorsport, watch WEC.

Gimmi-Sagan-Om-Draken > SnowBallin 03/05/2014 at 22:19

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They say the Merc will do 220+ on the straight as it is now, you haven't seen anything yet. The loss of lap time is due to downforce in corners, the aero/ rear end loss has them 1/5 or more of their aero missing. They will claw some back. They have massive torque, they haven't had much time to test so it will progress when they get more running, when I was working in the sport we tested all the time so it looked smoother to the fans.

ScuzzM0nkey > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 03/05/2014 at 23:40

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It doesn't seem like the problem is Renault anymore. The other Renault-powered teams were able to put down a lot of laps in Bahrain; only Red Bull struggled.

It's generally agreed that it's self inflicted by Red Bull at this point. Newey has obviously been very ambitious with the RB10... maybe too ambitious?

d3v > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/08/2014 at 23:04

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The fact that they can go faster down the straights makes me wonder how fast they'll go around a low downforce track like Monza.

PAron > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/09/2014 at 15:32

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"With the new "torquey" engines, more sliding will be inhibited on corner exit; because of this, the Monaco Gran Prix should be the most exciting in years."

I don't understand, unless you meant "more sliding will be exhibited"?

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > PAron 03/09/2014 at 15:53

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Possibly, I just changed it to 'initiated' though.

v12mind > SnowBallin 03/09/2014 at 17:30

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Just a few years ago when the cars were at their fastest, the races were boring. There was no wheel-to-wheel action and the race results were almost always the same race after race. Seriously, watching a series made up of Civics and Corollas was more fun to watch by far.

Racing isn't always about technology, you know...

checksyourmath > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/11/2014 at 09:36

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Think of it like a long distance race, where strategy and pace is just as important as outright speed.

Watch how Dave Wottle won the 800m gold in 1972. He appears to start way behind, but actually ran perfect splits and ran everyone down at the end. It is one of the most exciting footraces that has ever been caught on video. I have similar high hopes for F1 this year.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > checksyourmath 03/11/2014 at 16:15

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Good outlook :) I live for the moments that Hamilton is on song. I'm a fan of his, and he's electrifying when he can finally go full-tilt and chase people down.

This sort of race will probably promote that :)

Ed209 > SnowBallin 03/17/2014 at 23:52

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Ok, so by this article, it is saying that by all accounts the F1's will be FASTER with this new setup. How is that not pushing the limits

Ed209 > McChiken116 - Patrick H. 03/17/2014 at 23:54

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Increase Torque, no lag super charger, and by that virtue, faster acceleration at the straight-aways allow you to hit that top faster.

Destructive Tester > SnowBallin 03/18/2014 at 00:35

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Every major rule change has been to slow the cars down for years, I give them until the end of the season to have lap times comparable to last year.
Every time they change the formula people whine and bitch about the cars being ugly and slow (2009 wasn't THAT long ago), by mid season everyone will be used to the look of the new cars and, as I said, the cars will be every bit as fast. The only thing missing will be the sound, but that's just how turbos work and I have a feeling I've already pissed someone off with a "mandatory fart can" suggestion...

McMike > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 03/18/2014 at 19:08

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So... people read Sploid after all...

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/hear-the-shock…

Your link is at the bottom.

Bob Schumacher > wrblue11 03/18/2014 at 19:20

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Evolution is when something better replaces the previous thing. F1 is a watered down version of what it was.

Bob Schumacher > SnowBallin 03/18/2014 at 19:22

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Pussification is an awesome word. Yes they watered down F1 and now its more about fuel consumption rather than going fast.

mjett > SnowBallin 03/18/2014 at 19:53

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"F1 is supposed to be pinnacle motorsport. The best of the best." No, it has not been that in a long, long time. That's not the format of the sport. The sport is supposed to be *competitive*. There have been restrictions on what they can run since forever. First they took away the turbos, and people said the sport was destroyed. Now the turbos are back, and SURPRISE! people are *again* saying the sport is destroyed. F1 was never about having the most horsepower or the fastest car, it's about the DRIVER AND HIS TEAM. That's why it's a sport, not a ground-trial. There are production cars that can be bought which are faster than F1 cars, and that has been the case for many years.

pondeli > SnowBallin 03/18/2014 at 23:07

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you were probably very upset 70's when the NHL started making goalies wear face-masks. :(

SnowBallin > pondeli 03/19/2014 at 13:24

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If people are crazy enough to do something dangerous for the sake of entertainment then by all means go do it. People love speed and danger.