Can a driving style cause mechanical failures nowadays?

[Yoong Montoya]

I don't think so. They now have rev limiters and automatic gearboxes, so I would say all mechanical failures are caused by bad luck. The only exception I can think of is when the driver had a touch with another car before his car failed, as he probably would have damaged it to the extent that it broke down a few laps later (e.g M Schumacher and Wurz at Monaco 1998).

Today's cars are designed to be driven to the limit. If they brake down that's just bad luck. I just can't see how a driver can cause the car to break down due to his driving style these days.

What do you think?

[freud]

I think Driving 'can' cause problems in areas such as brakes, gearbox and tyre wear. If we analyze the driving syles of different drivers, TGF, JPM and DC would have more tyre wear problems than other drivers. Similarly JPM is very hard on his brakes which might lead to brake problems.

[neilap]

Also some drivers still do the downshifts manually. However, brakes and tires seem to be the area where drivers can do the most of their damage now.

[Mr V]

The reason for JPM's engine failure at Canada was down to the fact that his engine was set to maximum engine braking apparently.

[Sato san]

Gearboxes can still be broken by using too much kerbs or banging the car to much across kebing etc , so i would say that a driving style could still force a mechanical failure . But no where near the amount that it would years ago.

[Gt_R]

I agree that most of the "damages" done to the car due to the driving style is mostly with tires, brakes, gearbox...maybe even engine.

Surely, it is not good for the brakes and tyres when Ralf keeps locking it up in Nurburgring? But with regards to engines and other mechanicals, driving style has lesser effects on them than in the past... but how hard you push it and how the engineers have set it would determine how easy it would break.

For example, to remain competitive, BMW can tune their engine to a higher level, allowing JPM/Ralf to keep impressive performance...however, due to that, the higher limit could more easily cause the engine to fail. With JPM having a slightly more aggressive style than Ralf, it won't help matters. However, before we blame BMW for making a unreliable package...think...if BMW wants reliability at a race, they would have to sacrifice power...and if that is the case, would JPM/Ralf be as impressive?

The limits set and the driving styles can affect mechanical and engine reliability... the best explanation would be why teams run qualifying and race engines...

[f1manoz]

Brakes would certainly be the most vulnerable part of the car nowadays, IMO.

[Jukebox]

The engines are built to withstand being driven to the limit for a certain number of mileage.

All the drivers have to is to take care of their tyres and the brakes too play a major part whereby it's dangerous to brake hard when the tyres are still cold (example - after safety car period). That's why tyre warmers are crucial before the start of any race.

Sato san
Gearboxes can still be broken by using too much kerbs or banging the car to much across kebing etc ,.

I don agree with you cause F1 cars have this underboard planks that is imposed bt the FIA to be the lowest point of contact. The planks must not wear off after the race or the car will be disqualified. Teams uses packers to control the ride height in order to take care of the planks.

[steve nielsen]

No, a gearbox or engine can't fail because of the drivers, there is just to much electronic equipment on board to prevent that.

[ttc]

Originally posted by steve nielsen
No, a gearbox or engine can't fail because of the drivers, there is just to much electronic equipment on board to prevent that.

That's not true.

The electronics may prevent over-revving the engine, or damaging the gearbox due to bad gear shifts, but they do not prevent OVERWORKING of the gearbox nor overheating of the engine.

Just remember that design specs does not automatically equate actual working specs.

That is why driving styles do play a part, albeit an increasingly minor part, in mechanical failures.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Sato san
Gearboxes can still be broken by using too much kerbs or banging the car to much across kebing etc , so i would say that a driving style could still force a mechanical failure . But no where near the amount that it would years ago.

Originally posted by Jukebox

I don agree with you cause F1 cars have this underboard planks that is imposed bt the FIA to be the lowest point of contact.

I think Juke, the point Sato San is trying to make is the banging of wheels over the kerbs sending "shock waves" (for want of a better description) through the driveshaftsto the gearbox, thus, causing failure.

[Jack racer]

Correct it can cause shock loading of parts such as wheel bearings and in bad cases the gearbox.

[z2252314]

I have a feeling that when Todt, or any other team boss for that matter, orders their drivers to slow down as much as possible at the end of the race, it is due to more than just concerns for brakes or tyres. While there may be rev limiters, common sense tells you, that driving the car below that limit will put less strain on the engine. A driver may not be able to over rev an engine these days, but keeping off the limit, when driving with a safe lead, undoubtedly reduces the chance of an engine failure.

[Alan Jones]

YES!!

Ralf's driving style definitely led to a mechanical failure in Australia

[Sato san]

Originally posted by mr v


I think Juke, the point Sato San is trying to make is the banging of wheels over the kerbs sending "shock waves" (for want of a better description) through the driveshaftsto the gearbox, thus, causing failure.

Thanks , yes , that was exactly the point i was trying to make.

[Valve Bounce]

Why don't we refer this matter to Ralf?

Valve[img]http://www.**************************/smilies/bouncy.gif[/img]

[bart_jacobs]

I remeber that Jarno Trulli was second at the monaco GP a couple of years ago with the Jordan,he had a gearbox faillure and they said that that happend because of his driving style

[Usa Pilot]

Nelson Piquet said this is not possible. The moderns cars are unbreakable.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Usa Pilot
Nelson Piquet said this is not possible. The moderns cars are unbreakable.

Easy for Nelson to say, he doesn't drive them, and i don't think Thomas (his son) would have been testing the Jaguar that hard that he would break it, he wanted to make an impression after all!

[slicktoast]

Nah... just watch A. Yoong!

[Glen]

It's a gross oversimplification to suggest that engine failures cannot occur these days, except for bad luck. Sure, the engine is limited for revs - but that is the absolute maximum limit which should theoretically get you to the end of the race and no further. A margin for error is what will get you through more often, and that's what Ferrari are up to when they run slow in the closing laps.

Two examples - using too much traction control and engine braking both stress the engine a lot more than being 1% slower and turning these settings down a notch. When the chassis is well sorted both of these factors can be reduced, thus helping to give the engine a little more margin. The whole package saves the engine - last Ferrari engine failure? Indy last year I think. Conversely, don't just blame BMW when Montoya blows up - also blame the whole package.

[Total-F1]

Last Ferrari engine failure? Don't be silly. Race warm up in Canada, Michael blew up on the main straight!

[Jukebox]

Originally posted by mr v
I think Juke, the point Sato San is trying to make is the banging of wheels over the kerbs sending "shock waves" (for want of a better description) through the driveshaftsto the gearbox, thus, causing failure.

You have to be kidding right...shock waves? If the car jumps off the kerb onto the grass, then there's a possibilty because of soft springs & torsion bars setups or if the dampers are damaged.

[Mr V]

I'm on about the "shock waves" going through the suspension, driveshafts etc when the wheel hits a kerb not the shock of a car bouncing off and hitting the grass!

[M Webber]

Yes 100% YES just ask car killer JPM . He can out drive anything EVEN THE CAR .LOL LOL