zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Racing
/
How Mercedes Will Stop Borking Standing Starts: Finger Holes
How Mercedes Will Stop Borking Standing Starts: Finger Holes-October 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:11:24

The Mercedes Formula One team showed its one true weakness last year: they sucked at after F1 on driver aids used to find the clutch’s bite point for the start. This year, Mercedes cleverly built in finger-shaped indentations on the back of the clutch paddles to improve clutch feel, which is a pretty neat workaround for a complicated problem.

Clutches on F1 cars aren’t operated by a floor pedal, but rather, with paddles on the back of the steering wheel.put together this clever animation showing what these paddles look like, and how Mercedes’ new finger hole fix works.

Obviously, Mercedes couldn’t use an automated bite point finder to help its drivers find where its cars’ clutch engages for a smooth start anymore. That was one of many driver aids banned by F1 in recent years. New linear torque restrictions for this year also mean that teams can’t map clutch settings for ease of starts, and teams are also limited in how far the clutch paddle itself can travel, per Motorsport.com.

What Mercedes could do, however, is provide better feel through the clutch paddle itself to allow its drivers to find that sweet engagement spot themselves. Cupping the ends of the driver’s index and middle finger should mean that more of the driver’s hand is in contact with the paddle, and hopefully fix the problem with their starts.

It’s a bigger set of clutch paddles, no doubt, but if it keeps Lewis Hamilton from being passed by the next couple rows of cars behind him on standing starts, I think Mercedes is cool with the extra weight.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Racing
A Formula 1 Fan's Guide To The Indianapolis 500
A Formula 1 Fan's Guide To The Indianapolis 500
The rising popularity of in the has garnered an unprecedented amount of interest in all forms of motorsport — but if you’ve made the transition from to live racing and are hunting for more, it can be a little intimidating to hop into a new series. So, if you’ve been...
Oct 21, 2024
IndyCar’s 2024 Hybrid System Could Shine Brightest On Ovals
IndyCar’s 2024 Hybrid System Could Shine Brightest On Ovals
The notion that racing hybrids need to keep their batteries topped off led many to immediately discount the usefulness of similar systems for IndyCar oval racing with little to no braking on track. However, Honda believes the opposite will be true when hybrid systems are reported that Honda Performance...
Oct 21, 2024
Drive to Survive’s Rising Tide In America Brought New Fans To MotoGP
Drive to Survive’s Rising Tide In America Brought New Fans To MotoGP
If you’re a motorsport fan, you’ve probably heard of something that’s been dubbed “the .” Essentially, the about Formula 1 has regularly been linked to a growing viewership, especially in previously underserved demographics, like younger or female audiences. However, I’ve started to notice that all racing series have been...
Oct 21, 2024
Alexis DeJoria on What Makes Drag Racing So Welcoming to Women
Alexis DeJoria on What Makes Drag Racing So Welcoming to Women
is easily the most at all levels. While women have historically faced insurmountable barriers in other forms of racing, drag racing has not just welcomed women with open arms but provided them with an ample proving ground in which to prove their merit. And in a conversation with NHRA...
Oct 21, 2024
F1's Upcoming Italian Race Could Be Washed Out
F1's Upcoming Italian Race Could Be Washed Out
This weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is expected to be the first wet race of the Formula 1 season. In the isolated realm of F1, usually excites the sport’s fans. Though, severe rainstorms are also posing a threat to transportation infrastructure across northern Italy. F1 is preparing for the...
Oct 21, 2024
Formula 1's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Canceled Due to Severe Flooding
Formula 1's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Canceled Due to Severe Flooding
This weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix has been canceled just days before gates were set to open. Formula 1 and the local government made the decision in the wake of that at least eight people have been killed and thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the...
Oct 21, 2024
Copyright 2023-2024 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved