The opening round of the 2010 Formula 1 season, the Grand Prix of Bahrain, was not as exciting as it promised to be. Unfortunately, there were very few passing moves as most drivers simply followed each other around the circuit.
Some people criticized the refueling ban for the lack of action. Others said that two mandatory tire stops would improve things. Many claimed that the aerodynamics of the current F1 are simply too efficient.
Most of the downforce of F1 cars is generated by the undertray and the infamous double diffuser, and not by the wings. The turbulent air that exits the rear of the diffuser is going upwards, which ruins the aerodynamics of the car running behind.
But according to Frank Dernie, the real problem is elsewhere. Dernie worked for a long time at team Williams as the chief aerodynamicist before he moved to Lotus, Ligier and Toyota.
"For whatever reason, fans think there should be dozen of overtaking moves per lap in F1 racing," Dernie told us two years ago, proving the problem is nothing new.
"Look at other forms of racing such as motorcycle racing and NASCAR, and honestly I don't see so many passing manoeuvres there. It is wrong to think that getting rid of the downforce would improve the show in F1. If that was the case, the 1983 season would have been filled with stunning passing manoeuvres because the FIA banned the skirts and the venture sidepods at the end of the 1982 season. In 1983, the cars were running with 80% less downforce. But there was no more overtaking."
Dernie added: "Look at the most exciting races. They often happen in the wet. And yet the cars don't have enough downforce in these conditions and they run on grooved tires. They have no grip whatsoever and yet they pass each other several times each lap. I believe the real problem is with the stunning grip of the slick tires. If the tires offered little grip, they will not be able to transmit the downforce to the tarmac, and the braking distance will be much longer. Massive downforce is useless if it is not possible to use it. Mechanical grip has to be decreased, simple as that."
The engineer continued: "The other reason why it is hard to overtake in current Formula 1 is that the fastest cars are at the front with slower ones behind, so there is no reason to expect overtaking unless a driver makes a mistake. And because of the semi-automatic gearboxes, drivers don't do mistakes while shifting. With the old H pattern gearboxes, drivers used to make several mistakes when upshifting and downshifting, offering opportunities to pass. And if the braking distances would be lengthened by reducing grip, drivers would also make mistakes under braking."
Some people criticized the refueling ban for the lack of action. Others said that two mandatory tire stops would improve things. Many claimed that the aerodynamics of the current F1 are simply too efficient.
Most of the downforce of F1 cars is generated by the undertray and the infamous double diffuser, and not by the wings. The turbulent air that exits the rear of the diffuser is going upwards, which ruins the aerodynamics of the car running behind.
But according to Frank Dernie, the real problem is elsewhere. Dernie worked for a long time at team Williams as the chief aerodynamicist before he moved to Lotus, Ligier and Toyota.
"For whatever reason, fans think there should be dozen of overtaking moves per lap in F1 racing," Dernie told us two years ago, proving the problem is nothing new.
"Look at other forms of racing such as motorcycle racing and NASCAR, and honestly I don't see so many passing manoeuvres there. It is wrong to think that getting rid of the downforce would improve the show in F1. If that was the case, the 1983 season would have been filled with stunning passing manoeuvres because the FIA banned the skirts and the venture sidepods at the end of the 1982 season. In 1983, the cars were running with 80% less downforce. But there was no more overtaking."
Dernie added: "Look at the most exciting races. They often happen in the wet. And yet the cars don't have enough downforce in these conditions and they run on grooved tires. They have no grip whatsoever and yet they pass each other several times each lap. I believe the real problem is with the stunning grip of the slick tires. If the tires offered little grip, they will not be able to transmit the downforce to the tarmac, and the braking distance will be much longer. Massive downforce is useless if it is not possible to use it. Mechanical grip has to be decreased, simple as that."
The engineer continued: "The other reason why it is hard to overtake in current Formula 1 is that the fastest cars are at the front with slower ones behind, so there is no reason to expect overtaking unless a driver makes a mistake. And because of the semi-automatic gearboxes, drivers don't do mistakes while shifting. With the old H pattern gearboxes, drivers used to make several mistakes when upshifting and downshifting, offering opportunities to pass. And if the braking distances would be lengthened by reducing grip, drivers would also make mistakes under braking."