Five races to go until the traction control ban – assuming it isn’t jeopardised by the row over ECUs. We’re going to see more spins next year, according to Nico Rosberg:
It’s going to be exciting. I tried it recently and it was quite shocking actually. In the difficulty sense it is not ideal – and it is going to be a big challenge for everybody.
I was going through the chicane (in the test) and I hit the throttle because I forgot that traction control was off. I was in first gear, and it spun me round quicker than I was able to think. I was facing the other way and I was like, ‘Whoa!’ In the wet it would be incredibly difficult.
Links below.
Photo: BMW
Related links
- Traction control banned in F1 from 2008
- Debate: Traction control gone – what’s next?
- Banned! Traction control
- New row over McLaren ECUs
- Autosport.com – Rosberg positive about TC ban (external)
Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport
Robert Mckay
30th August 2007, 14:55
I’m relatively hopeful this will be a shot in the arm for the sport, but a part of me thinks the TC ban will probably do something similar to the one-tyre rule, i.e. shake the sport up for about half to two-thirds of a season, and then become less of a factor once teams and drivers have adjusted to it.
Number 38
30th August 2007, 14:58
So…..Nico’s the first to comment on the LACK of traction control. Yes, it’s done in more than one F1 driver. A much malaigned driver named Antonio Pizzonia, a GREAT tester for Williams, was tossed aside and ended up in USA champ cars. Good in F1 with traction control, he never came to grips without it!
Today he’s a “has-been”.
Journeyer
30th August 2007, 15:02
I’m pretty sure the teams will find a way to work around this… Sooner rather than later.
The fact they got a one-to-two-year notice means they’ve had a lot of time to work on a workaround for it.
At least that’s what I think.
milos
30th August 2007, 17:25
Pizzonia races in GP2, without traction control :-)
Dan M
30th August 2007, 17:47
whats the deal with Stability control? Has that been officially banned?
Keith Collantine
30th August 2007, 19:56
Actually Pizzonia was dropped by his FMS GP2 team before the French Grand Prix having only scored one point in five races. He’s since been replaced by Adam Carroll who’s won twice.
As far as I’m aware stability control is not legal, but some car manufacturers including BMW would like it legalised. It absolutely must not be allowed in my opinion. Autosport’s Mark Hughes has written a couple of very good articles arguing the same.
patrick
30th August 2007, 20:55
Surely stability control would be a form fo traction control (and a very advanced form at that!)
Keith’s right. Mark’s right. The sport should not be sacrificed to BMW’s desire to use F1 to market its road car gizmos
Eric M.
31st August 2007, 2:20
Apparently I’m way off, but I thought the FIA gave up on banning traction control a few years ago because it was becoming impossible for the scrutineers to detect? I’m all for banning it of course, but as Journeyer said the teams will find a way to work around it. But if the teams can’t, then the sport is much better for it!
Now if they just bring back manual gearboxes and clutch pedals the sport would be set! Give the drivers a car in which they can REALLY show their talents.
pierre
1st September 2007, 17:49
Eric, exactly the reason why the FIA is intoducing standard ECU’s for the 2008 is to ensure that the teams obide by the ban of traction control. I must agree with Robert, we are dealing with the best drivers in the world and it will not take long for the them to adjust. I sincerely believe that the only limitation the FIA must impose on the teams is the width,length,height,mass and tyre construction of the cars and allow the aerodynamicist complete freedom within this volumetric space and believe me we will see F1 as we have never seen it before. The one thing we must stay clear of is ground effect cars as we know the history and sad results of this design philosophy.
Wanderingmind
3rd September 2007, 19:02
The McLaren Microsoft ECU does not seem to be working to most teams’ satisfaction…
Pierre, doing that might turn out to be very innovative indeed. Maybe too innovative. A team or two who manage to utilise that entire freedom well may fly away leaving the others too far behind.. I think. Not to mention the cost of developing a car with that much of freedom would probably see some teams gaining an upper hand easily due to their resources.
Thom
14th November 2007, 13:21
Just a thought on the ‘design within a cuboid’ idea – it’d end up being Le Mans racing with smaller engines, surely…
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