We Love Cars July

welcome to mission control
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1. DIFFERENTIAL
Allows control over the differential
that sends power to the rear wheels,
regulating the speed of the wheel on
one side in respect to the other side.
2. NEUTRAL
A useful button for when a driver arrives
in the box for a pit stop.
3. TEAM RADIO
Puts the driver in radio contact with
his team. For much of last season,
this was heavily restricted, but it came
back with a bang in late 2016.
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4. BRAKE BALANCE
Using these dials, the driver can shift
the brake bias to either the front or the
back. With modern F1 cars, harvesting
energy from braking phases, balancing
between the right feel for the driver
yet still recovering enough energy for
good lap times, is essential.
5. DRINK
In extreme races (eg, the heat of Singapore),
drivers can experience fluid
loss of up to 4kg. A two per cent loss
in body weight can impair cognition,
so getting fluid on board is crucial.
6. FUEL MIX
device governs a host of software
Need full-fat burn or fuel-saving leanness?
changes that influence car behaviour.
You can set your preference No one, however, will reveal just what
– though the maximum fuel load is those influences are.
105kg.
13. FAIL
7. TYRES
Puts all the car’s systems into failsafe
The different tyre types in use (dry,
mode.
wet, etc) have varying characteristics.
14. DISPLAY SCREEN
This switch is used to set the car up
This OLED information panel can display
multiple pages of data on speed,
accordingly.
8. CLUTCH SETTINGS
lap time, difference to the leader, battery
If it’s not engaging properly, the driver energy status, etc.
can adjust the clutch with this switch.
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9. ERS ACTIVATION
15. SOFTWARE OPTIONS
The modern F1 car has a suite of energy
recovery systems – this deploys them.
10. ENGINE MODES
Allows the drivers to engage a particular
set of engine performance parameters
for different circumstances.
11. CLUTCH SETTINGS
If it’s not engaging properly, the driver
can adjust the clutch with this switch.
12. MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROTARY
Ask an F1 engineer what’s governed
by such multifunctional switches and
the silence is deafening. This mystery
These, on either side of the wheel, move
the selection of the multifunctional
rotary by increments of -10 (left button)
and +1 (right button).
16. PIT LANE SPEED LIMITER
Immediately drops the car to the speed
required by F1’s strict pit lane limits.
17. TORQUE ADJUSTMENT
Allows the driver to control torque
delivery from the engine.
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