How fast can an F1 car go?

[niky]

lol..an f1 car without wings is an uncontrollable aircraft. those wings produce downforce 3x the weight of the car, so theoretically.. you can drive them upsidedown!

id love to see someone put this theory to the test. drive through a tunnel where the tarmac, walls, and the ceiling is one smooth surface. and just drive that sucker on the ceiling!

It won't work. The only reason you can drive cars/bikes on the walls/ceiling of the "globe of death" or "barrel of death" (or whatever the heck they call them) carnival attractions is because centrifugal force keeps the fluids in the correct orientation; e.g.: pooling towards the bottom of the engine.

If you were to drive an F1 car on the ceiling, aerodynamic downforce would keep the car stuck to the ceiling, but the fuel pumps and oil pumps would then be on the wrong side of the engine. It'd probably stay up there for fifteen to twenty seconds or so, then the fuel pump would go dry or something inside the engine would seize, the car would unsettle and bam!... you would have little tiny bits of the F1 car coming out the other side of the tunnel, along with little tiny bits of whichever unlucky sod was driving the F1 at the time.

I'm betting on "only" 270, even with downforce removed, those suckers aren't very aerodynamic.

 

[Blake]

I read this from the beginning, and most people are forgetting that when properly tuned, F1 cars aren't built to make a flat out run. They are built for cornering at higher speeds, so that when the apex is reached, the driver can peg the accelorator and dart to the next corner.

Personally, it doesn't matter maker's/blue-printer's which engine gets the record for the top speed, it matters which car/driver is on the podium the most during the season. With that said, I hope that Schumacher stands on that podium in every race. Ferrari has been a dominating force in F1 almost since its inception.

It's not to say that McClaren, Benneton or other cars won't make the podium, I truly believe Ferrari is the best all around.

The true question should be asked here:

• Which car/engine has won more F1 championships?

I fail to see what this has to do with anything. Ferrari are having trouble making the podium this season, McLaren has got on the podium many times this season and Benneton doesn't exist anymore.

And that has anything to do with this test anyway.

Blake

 

[Omnis]

I fail to see what this has to do with anything. Ferrari are having trouble making the podium this season, McLaren has got on the podium many times this season and Benneton doesn't exist anymore.

And that has anything to do with this test anyway.

Blake

you beat me to it.

 

[Lee]

I tad off topic i know but in an earlier issue of Autosport it was reported that Honda are in a process of making a 1000 BHP engine for the last race of the season in a push to get a victory.

Would they use that for the test or the engine they used most commonly?

 

[Majarvis]

I tad off topic i know but in an earlier issue of Autosport it was reported that Honda are in a process of making a 1000 BHP engine for the last race of the season in a push to get a victory.

Would they use that for the test or the engine they used most commonly?

If they are making an engine that is designed to last two weekends to 1,000 hp, you can almost guarantee that it would be much higher than that for their Bonneville run, since they could rebuild it and change engines at will.

 

[Lee]

If they are making an engine that is designed to last two weekends to 1,000 hp, you can almost guarantee that it would be much higher than that for their Bonneville run, since they could rebuild it and change engines at will.

Hmmmmmm that would cost a hell of a lot though to make a number of engines for a whole days worth of high revs.

Honda are dedictaed, but maybe not that dedicated

 

[Blake]

I tad off topic i know but in an earlier issue of Autosport it was reported that Honda are in a process of making a 1000 BHP engine for the last race of the season in a push to get a victory.

Would they use that for the test or the engine they used most commonly?

Wonder if it will last, I remember last year there was talk of Honda pushing the revs up for the last race in Brazil and the engine failed a short way into the race.

Blake

 

[iceburns288]

I just heard on FollowF1 (the F1 podcast... it's cool so far) about the 1000hp engine for China. Sounds cool.

 

[DQuaN]

Thought i'd resurrect this thread. Anyone know what's happening with it?

Has it happened already?

I sure would like to see some info.

That is, if it wasn't just an idea that fizzled out.

 

[Majarvis]

Thought i'd resurrect this thread. Anyone know what's happening with it?

Has it happened already?

I sure would like to see some info.

That is, if it wasn't just an idea that fizzled out.

www.bonneville400.com

Unfortunately BAR have been rained out, so the top speed run has been postponed.

 

[DQuaN]

Bugger.

That's a shame, looks unlikley that they will be able to do it this year.

And as BAR will be no more next year, I reckon it will be pretty unlikley that they do it at all.

 

[Dougboy]

they already went so far and spent so much money. it would be a shame for them to just scrap it alll

 

[Blake]

BAT will still be the title sponsor for Honda next year, I doubt it will be scrapped all together.

Blake

 

[pSI civic]

man that car looks cool. the rear wing is funny but its still cool.

 

[Majarvis]

BAT will still be the title sponsor for Honda next year, I doubt it will be scrapped all together.

Blake

Exactly, they will want to get the maximum out of their investment. I expect them to go for the attempt again next summer, when the flats have dried out and conditions are more suitable.

 

[Blake]

BAR have, unofficially, built the fastest Formula 1 car ever. While doing shakedown runs the car broke the 400kph barrier during 3 runs. The fastest of which was clocked on the final run – a massive 415kph.

“The car ran perfectly,” said Bonneville 400 technical chief, Gary Savage. “The day proved how important all the recce work has been, and how important it was to approach this challenge in a proper proffessional manner, to show it respect, not just turn up to the Salt Flats, go for it and hope for the best.”

The day didn’t go entirely to plan though – with strong side winds blowing dust onto the track. “There was dust everywhere,” said Savage. “We even had tumbleweed blowing accross the track. It was like being in a Western film.”

The car was completely Formula One legal during its runs at Mojave, as there we no movable aerodynimic devices on the car.

The team hopes to return to Bonneville in late May or early June next year, where they are looking forward to going even faster. “It was an encouraging day and we are confident we can achieve this speed – and more – at Bonneville.”

That’s how fast an F1 car can go.

Blake

 

[Lee]

BAR have, unofficially, built the fastest Formula 1 car ever. While doing shakedown runs the car broke the 400kph barrier during 3 runs. The fastest of which was clocked on the final run – a massive 415kph.

That’s how fast an F1 car can go.

Blake

Whoa... If only they had an areo set up they would use on a track, they would be winning championships by now

 

[Tornado]

Whoa... If only they had an areo set up they would use on a track, they would be winning championships by now

Yeah, if Takuma Sato could manage to take out every other driver in every race. Then Jensen Button might be able to win a race.

 

[Lee]

Then Jensen Button might be able to win a race.

I dunno, he might quickly jump out of the car on the last lap, jump on the front wing, wreck it, then go and crash it. Then at the after race interview he can blame the front wing for about the 1,237,834th time and everyone will be happy.

 

[Tornado]

I dunno, he might quickly jump out of the car on the last lap, jump on the front wing, wreck it, then go and crash it. Then at the after race interview he can blame the front wing for about the 1,237,834th time and everyone will be happy.

So what your saying is that even if he had Sato take out the entire rest of the field, Jensen Button still wouldn't win a race due to "front wing difficulties"? Sounds about right to me. I can see it now:
During the Spanish Grand Prix, Jensen Button got pwned by a Minardi. After the race, Button was quoted as saying "It as the front end! It won't stick to the track!" All of this despite going 163 MPH faster on average down the main straight. That reminds me: I miss Mexico City being a Formula 1 venue.

 

[y2kgamer]

BAR have, unofficially, built the fastest Formula 1 car ever. While doing shakedown runs the car broke the 400kph barrier during 3 runs. The fastest of which was clocked on the final run – a massive 415kph.

415 km/h = 257.869 MPH

It would be more impressive if Honda did it with a real F1 car with a regular rear wing...

Champ Cars used to hit ~ 240 MPH when they raced on superspeedways!

 

[Blake]

It may not be a regular rear wing, but it’s still track legal.

Blake

 

[Majarvis]

415 km/h = 257.869 MPH

It would be more impressive if Honda did it with a real F1 car with a regular rear wing...

Champ Cars used to hit ~ 240 MPH when they raced on superspeedways!

I agree that I would like to see them attempt it with a more "conventional" car, but it just wouldn't be possible. F1 cars generate far too much drag to run in a typical manner to achieve this kind of speed. Champ cars are designed (or were) to go 240 mph around an oval, whereas F1 cars are not, so this is the only solution.
And like Blake said, it's still track legal.
Trying to get an F1 car to break 400 km/h in a conventional setup would be like asking a Kia Sorrento to do some serious offroading in 4 foot deep mud, and come out the other side. It will get down into the mud pit just fine, it just won't get out like a Jeep will.
An F1 car will get close to 400 km/h (380 maybe) but unless it's fully trimmed out like this, it won't break it.
I still don't understand why they didn't slim the front wing down though, maybe they can't in order to keep it track legal.

 

[Small_Fryz]

wow, very fast indeed 👍

Maybe they should set an F1 up to "Superspeedway" spec and go even faster!

 

[Jay]

An F1 car will get close to 400 km/h (380 maybe) but unless it's fully trimmed out like this, it won't break it.

And a big heavy super rich Europeon tycoon passes the Honda F1 car cruising in his newly purchased road legal factory Bugatti while listening to Pavarotti

 

[Blake]

Let’s see it try to keep up in the turns, even with the stripped down aero! 💡



Blake

 

[scoobyonline200]

whats the fastest speed an F1 car reached during a Gran Prix??? and not Average speed, but rather fastest overall speed. I dont know if this is correct but somewhere i read David Coulthard in the Mclaren hit 220mph at monza in 2000. Im not sure if thats true so i wanna ask if anyone one knows what speed and when and where.

just curious.

 

[Majarvis]

And a big heavy super rich Europeon tycoon passes the Honda F1 car cruising in his newly purchased road legal factory Bugatti while listening to Pavarotti

Are you crazy? Clearly he would be blasting Meatloaf, or perhaps Journey. 👍

 

[Majarvis]

whats the fastest speed an F1 car reached during a Gran Prix??? and not Average speed, but rather fastest overall speed. I dont know if this is correct but somewhere i read David Coulthard in the Mclaren hit 220mph at monza in 2000. Im not sure if thats true so i wanna ask if anyone one knows what speed and when and where.

just curious.

The Saubers have been hitting around 230 mph at Indy the last few seasons, and the same at Monza, I do believe.

 

[scoobyonline200]

The Saubers have been hitting around 230 mph at Indy the last few seasons, and the same at Monza, I do believe.

thats amazing...well to me atleast it is. An F1 car...a road course F1 car hitting 230mph say at monza...must be an amazing sight.