I Did Not Know That! ...

[Calman]

Hi Guys!

I thought this would be a fun way to discuss things we have recently discovered about F1, whether general knowledge, news or fun facts about the sport we love.

So, myself, I have just recently 'clicked' that "Toro Rosso" is in fact Italian for Red Bull .. WHO KNEW.  To be fair, "Toro" should have given it away! 

Best Regards,
Cal

[Dare]

Rosso was a good hint too

[Calman]

I know, I know! ... give me around 5 weeks to six months and I may realise that the roundy thingy inside the middle of the car, is a control for the driver to make the car go right or left!! (except when Max is driving it).   

Best Regards,
Cal

[John S]

In the spirit of this thread what's the roundy thingy in the middle of the car? 

Do you mean the drivers helmet?  as I've not seen any drivers with middle age spread. 

Or could you be referring to the oblong video game controller thingy attached to the steering column? 

[Calman]

Yes indeed John, the "Oblong Video Game Controller" ... that's what it's called.  It has nice colours on it, a computer screen and lots of nice shaped buttons and switches.

Thanks for clearing that up, as it's been bothering me for many years now.

What was ever wrong with that large round wooden thing with spokes on it - you could even see the drivers hands back then!!! 

Best Regards,
Cal

[guest3164]

Well this thread is something else 

[lkjohnson1950]

I think the video game controller is ridiculous. All or nearly all of those adjustments should be banned. Set the car up as best you can, then deal with what happens during the race. Let the drivers actually concentrate on driving the car.

[Calman]

I think the video game controller is ridiculous. All or nearly all of those adjustments should be banned. Set the car up as best you can, then deal with what happens during the race. Let the drivers actually concentrate on driving the car.

HERE! HERE!!!!

... and stop all the "Lewis, we need you to select menu option 549, map 2, setting 5, option B".

I can remember one particular race, again with Lewis, where he was so frustrated trying to fix the car out on track during a race, where the team over a period of 20 minutes, had to go through a whole sequence of menu settings, re-setting this, re-setting that, option this, switch to option that.

If a modern driver only had to worry about keeping 4 wheels on the track, how different would race results be, with the same 20 drivers on the grid??? (no aero issues, no tyre issues, no fuel saving or car "computer related" setup issues).

BONKERS!!!

Best Regards,
Cal

[Scott]

Yup.  Me too.  Give them a radio button and maybe brake balance for the sake of safety.  And a long clutch to work out their own launch control.  Let them suck the water up a straw...then it won’t break down.

[John S]

Returning to the subject, 'I didn't know that!':-

The country with the highest number of driver entries to F1 without a win is...…….. Japan.   
21 Japanese drivers have made 553 race starts in 401 GPs with the highest result of a 3rd place for Aguri Suzuki, Sato and Kobayashi.

I discovered this when looking for information about non winning F1 nations as Charles Leclerc looks likely to score Monaco's first ever GP win this year. Turns out Monegasques have only entered 45 F1 races in total and 21 of them are Charles' own efforts.       

[Jericoke]

Turns out Monegasques have only entered 45 F1 races in total and 21 of them are Charles' own efforts.       

How many F1 drivers live in Monaco without changing their citizenship (or at least 'racing country'?)

Rosberg at least thought of Monaco as 'home' even though he raced as a German.

[Alianora La Canta]

Turns out Monegasques have only entered 45 F1 races in total and 21 of them are Charles' own efforts.       

How many F1 drivers live in Monaco without changing their citizenship (or at least 'racing country'?)

Rosberg at least thought of Monaco as 'home' even though he raced as a German.

Many. But only F1 3 drivers have entered under the Monaco flag.