[D33-PAC]

Just look at her ! It looks like a mechanical ballerina ! And that rear - reminds me of my days in college when I'd gawk at some girls and the naughty younger me would opine. Those FAT tires sure do provide grip and the ability to lay down more power - but what about the rest ?



So far I was only able to gather the engine specs - Mercedes M08 EQ Power+, 1.6 L (98 cu in), V6 turbocharged engine, limited to 15,000 RPM, in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout. Nothing too special here. V6 Turbo-ed like the previous years - but in terms of performance way way ahead of the rest.


I put together a video and all I can say is WOW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqmYpPEm2Kg

Anyone want to take a jab about why it's so fast ? Forget the tires this thing brakes late too. The way Hamilton just glides through corners is incredible.

[GTO]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

This year's cars look incredible with their lower & meatier stance, while those fat tyres are delicious. F1 is surely taking steps in the right direction. I read some interviews which stated that the cars are so fast, the drivers actually had to up their training regime. Physically, they are damn demanding.

Even the Ferrari looks menacing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3cfJCOSq8Q&t=266s

[ecenandu]

Imagine these cars in rain, Spa for example, will filter the men from the boys for sure. .

Rookies will have a steeper learning curve than previous years, Alonso et al have mentioned it is harder to catch these cars from a slide.

[ashwin.terminat]

Originally Posted by ecenandu

Imagine these cars in rain, Spa for example, will filter the men from the boys for sure. .

Rookies will have a steeper learning curve than previous years, Alonso et al have mentioned it is harder to catch these cars from a slide.

I cannot wait to see what Verstappen does in the rain in the new car. He is going to be super exciting to watch.

As for being harder to catch, I remember Ricciardo also saying the same thing. That once the cars start sliding, it's a lot harder to correct the slide.

[anachronix]

Fastest car in F1 history? I don't think so.

The lap record is still 1:24.125 set by the F2004, the 2017 cars were over 2 seconds slower in the race.

The Qualifying format in 2004 vs 2017 is different, it may not be the ideal comparo.

[ecenandu]

Originally Posted by anachronix

The lap record is still 1:24.125 set by the F2004, the 2017 cars were over 2 seconds slower in the race.

We had refuelling during race in 2004, it is different compared to 2017, it may not be the ideal comparo.

[anachronix]

There were no slick tires either, completely different times. But the 2017 cars have been a disappointment. Nowhere close to being the fastest in the history sorts!

For reference, the FL in 2017 came on lap 56 from Kimi and the next best was from the other Finn.

Originally Posted by ecenandu

We had refuelling during race in 2004, it is different compared to 2017, it may not be the ideal comparo.

[ecenandu]

Originally Posted by anachronix

Nowhere close to being the fastest in the history sorts!

True.

But the 2017 cars can pull fastest qualifying laptimes because of the format and three compound tyres on offer. Overall race pace, still a long way to go.

[deetjohn]

The new cars are fast, no question about that. And records will surely tumble as the season progresses. Teams are sure to make gains with the aero and the powerunit - they are no longer restricted.

Albert park is not really a circuit which suits the new cars, we can expect to see a much faster car at Shanghai and Barcelona.

I had shared this video in the silly season thread before the first race weekend. Look how early the SF70H gets to each corner. And Kimi is not hitting all the apexes too. It another matter that the glorious F2004 didn't have slick tyres. But on that tangent we can say a lot of things about the SF70H too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uedec5NkO5o

This was the second video that was shared in that post. The new cars simply destroys the best from the hybrid era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATJjQpBWoLA&app=desktop

The cars we have now is a very solid base, and we can surely expect races to get shorter in the coming years.

[sun_king]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

<snip>
But on that tangent <snip>

Off tangent, the SF70H may be a bit faster on the track but it comprehensively whacked in the sound department by the majestically sweet roar of the F2004's V10. Wishful thinking: If Ferrari could one day reactivate the F2004 and pit it against the SF70H in Monza, with slicks

The 19,000 RPM days...

[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by sun_king

Off tangent, the SF70H may be a bit faster on the track but it comprehensively whacked in the sound department by the majestically sweet roar of the F2004's V10. Wishful thinking: If Ferrari could one day reactivate the F2004 and pit it against the SF70H in Monza, with slicks

The 19,000 RPM days...

Oh you bet! That magnificent sound more than makes up for the little time or fuel lost. Miss it badly!

And since we are on a thread about the fastest car in F1 history, lets have more V10 glory. Around Monza, I would never bet against the good old V10s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqYPU3MNqHw

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

The new cars are fast, no question about that. And records will surely tumble as the season progresses.

For someone who hasn't really been following F1 for years now (i.e. me), could you please summarize what's new / impressive with this year's cars?

[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

For someone who hasn't really been following F1 for years now (i.e. me), could you please summarize what's new / impressive with this year's cars?

FIA thankfully changed the regulations for this year to make the cars go faster.

1) More aero grip - Wider and lower wings + bigger diffuser helps with higher down force.
2) More mechanical grip - Wider car, wider tyres along with better compounds (ultra soft etc) which doesn't degrade like before - meaning the driver can push the car lap after lap unlike before. So when the fuel quantity is getting lower, the speeds go higher (there is no refueling now, they carry all the fuel they need from the start). Drivers are no longer held back due to tyres.
3) No restriction on engine development - The hybrids are now in their most powerful guise and expect teams to find more time over the course of the season.

The cars weigh a bit more and with more downforce, the straight line speed will be affected if its not a DRS zone. But they are so much quicker around the corners now.

[D33-PAC]

Sorry guys. I started following F1 around 2009 or 2008. I'm no veteran, though it's been a while since I've been an F1 fan. I knew the 2004 cars were fast but my memory doesn't go that far back .

Are the 2004 cars the fastest of all time ? What is the utter annihilator ? As in, it will shred any other F1 car of any year on any track ? Is it the 2004 Ferrari ?