Return of active suspension to f1

"Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls" (internerdstuff) 04/26/2014 at 01:21 • Filed to: None

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After reading this article i understand it better ( FYI,small payment required at that site)

Apparently the powers that be are confident they can allow active suspension to return without all the other driver aids being tacked on -stuff like antilock brakes and traction control systems- because it's now all overseen by a control ECU.They say interconnected suspensions are so complicated that it would be cheaper for everyone if they could use a basic kind of active suspension.

I'm not so sure!Each team still has to write the control codes ( for each track i presume?),so how is that much different to the complicated setup of the connected suspensions?Also i cant imagine the components of active being much cheaper (relative to even the smallest teams overall budget).

One final thought; modern versions of these interconnected suspensions are finding their way onto production cars and the benifits seem to be huge.The best example being how a mclaren 12c can ride bumps far better than the equivalent ferrari while being just as firm in the corners.Yes,active suspension can do that too of course,but active uses energy.Quite a disadvantage these days! Personally i'd prefer they continue with the current suspension rules.Who knows what cool breakthroughs will come?

Any thoughts?

Vi517, JDX Racing > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls 04/26/2014 at 02:21

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I have no problem with the current suspension, but if Formula 1 is to be "the pinnacle of motorsport" they should use the most advanced technology available. However, they should wait until the next major regulation change. The field is already spread out with the new engines, adding active suspension soon would just make it worse. Wait a couple of years, then implement it.

JACU - I've got bonifides. > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls 04/26/2014 at 09:55

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I'm for it but I agree it should wait until the next major regulation change. We now have relatively inexpensive cars that benefit from traction and stability control (although in some cases mandatory) that were once only available on very expensive vehicles, with much of the technology pioneered in F1.

Although it takes a great deal of time to pass, I do believe that technology used in F1 eventually trickles down to our street driven vehicles, the metallurgy of Honda main bearings in some of their higher-revving street motors being a good example of being as a direct result of their earlier F1 program. According to Honda the surface of the bearings had a unique pyramidal structure that allowed more space for oil retention, resulting in lower friction and improved long-term durability.

I would love to see the day where active suspensions could be retrofitted to some of our more desirable cars.