F-1 transmissions

R Dogg 56 · July 12, 2004

I've often wondered how they work. Is there an actual clutch pedal that you use, or is it "somewhat" of an automatic, the "somewhat" part obviously being you change the gears manually with steering column-mounted paddles, but you don't have to work a clutch pedal.

And, are they the same thing that the F1 race care use? I necer see them change gears or reach for the gear shift, so they must be using auto trans. or these F1 transmissons.... right?

Hecktorx · July 12, 2004

This is the way they described it to Gordon when he drove Montoya's car last year. You still have a clutch which is used for starting from a dead stop (Minus when they start a race. They use launch control). Up shifts are done automatically without the clutch. Downshifts are done with the paddle.

They way they made it sound, they never use the clutch for shifting.

carguru · July 13, 2004

Basically, those trannys are just a manual tranny with electronics to control the clutch actuation and gear shifts. In race cars, they use what is called a crash box. This is a manual tranny without syncronizers. Once you get rolling, you don't use a clutch anymore anyways. In fact, if you match the speeds right on any manual, you don't have to use the clutch to shift.

R Dogg 56 · July 14, 2004

You still have a clutch which is used for starting from a dead stop (Minus when they start a race. They use launch control). Up shifts are done automatically without the clutch. Downshifts are done with the paddle.
They way they made it sound, they never use the clutch for shifting.

Basically, those trannys are just a manual tranny with electronics to control the clutch actuation and gear shifts. In race cars, they use what is called a crash box. This is a manual tranny without syncronizers. Once you get rolling, you don't use a clutch anymore anyways. In fact, if you match the speeds right on any manual, you don't have to use the clutch to shift.

Hmmm, so there is a "one time" depress of the clutch pedal in these cars that you use to get out of a dead stop, and everything else is left to computers. Very interesting.

Reason behind my asking is because I know that Ferrari and BMW option these transmissions in their model line, and I was wondering if they are the same type/style that is used in their race cars (SCCA, LeMans 12- and 24-hour, F1, etc.).

Thanks for clearing this up for me!

In fact, if you match the speeds right on any manual, you don't have to use the clutch to shift.

This is true. The tachometer can be your lifeline in these cases. Too low revs, and you kill it. Too high, and the gearbox goes boom.

carguru · July 14, 2004

BMW's are closer to a regular auto tranny. The Ferrari system is very similar to the system used for the F1 racer. In fact, the Challenge Stradale, a race version of the 360 has the same tranny as the standard 360, so technically, yes. Ferrari does use the same tranny for race cars and for street cars. In the latest versions of these race vehicles, there is no clutch. Everything is computer controlled. Normally the difference between the race and the street versions are synchronizers. Race ones don't have it, street version does.

In Europe, they are more accustomed to shifting themselves for a few reasons. 1. manual trannys weigh less than the auto boxes. 2. better fuel econ. 3. European cars tend to be smaller in size so space is limited. In the previous company I worked for, I was the lead engineer on the project for the electronic clutch system. The electronic clutch was to come up with an "automatic" tranny that weighs less, is more efficient, and shifts smoothly. This is the result. Of course, there have been many improvements made to make it better. These have also been adapted to many of the smaller vehicles.

OUMike · July 25, 2004

F1 trannys do not opperate electronically. They operate hydrolically. They DO use a clucth that is operated by fluids. They all (BMW, Ferrari, Porsche) prety much operate the same way. However the thing about race ones not having syncronizers, this is true.

On a street car the clutch engauges and the gear switches in a matter of miliseconds. These transmissions are much much more effieicent.

carguru · July 26, 2004

Actually, if you want to get technical about it, the tranny is controlled by electronics. The hydraulics just move the mechanical parts. If electric actuators can be made stronger and more compact, the hydralulics would not be there. I can also tell you that much development has been done to remove the clutch from the vehicle and combine the functions within the differential. Geez, just because I left out the word pedal, you go picking it apart. Thanks.

OUMike · July 26, 2004

This isn't exactly the same thing...but its close. They work basically the same way.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/sequential-gearbox.htm

Kinda interesting. I guess the older ones were hydrolic and the ones are apparently pneumatic.

carguru · July 26, 2004

The one shown on how stuff works is the standard crash box. Sequential boxes have been around for quite a while. They can be either pneumatic or hydraulic.

The F1 tranny used by Ferrari, I know for a fact, is hydraulic. Ferrari is the only ones currently using similar trannys for the race cars and street cars. BMW began to use a very similar tranny for the Touring Car series M3. The street BMW (and Porsche for that matter) uses a true auto tranny which have no clutch.

I've had the privelege of driving the road going Ferraris with the F1 tranny. I have driven the F355 when it first came out and the 360 Modena. The system shifts great if you are driving agressively, but if putting around in traffic, the system tends to hunt around (engaging and disengaging the clutch). In fact, on some of these cars the clutches wear out prematurely because of this problem. And on many of these cars, you can smell clutch around the car after it has been in traffic for a while. The Enzo is suppose to have the latest variant of this tranny, which is suppose to be better. I have yet to test one of these out.