Tech Corner: New Start Procedure Explained

  • Published on 22 Aug 2015 21:04
  • comments 0
  • By: Harry Shovelar

Starts in Formula 1 can be influential in determining how someone's race is going to unfold. When nailed perfectly, you are able to make up several positions - as the Ferraris did in Hungry and the Williams in Silverstone both at the expense of Mercedes.

For a perfect start, the driver has to release a clutch which then delivers torque for when the they set off. Throughout the weekend of any race, engineers calculate how much grip there actually is on the grid, so that they can set the right amount of torque in order to deliver 'The Perfect Start'. Now if they get it wrong and the car has too much torque, then the wheels will spin up or if they have too little torque, then they will just be slow off the line.

There are 2 clutches, the first one is fully open and the other one is partially closed. The two clutches are adjusted so that the car can perform the best start possible. All what has changed in the rules, is that the driver can no longer have any advice from the pitwall on what adjustments to make to the two clutches. So it could be too open or too closed, it is now up to the driver to decide from when he does the formation lap prior to the race and all the engineers can do is watch whilst the cars line up.

The start procedure itself hasn't changed, it's merely now down to the driver's own judgement to perform the best start.

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar