Best engineering mind in Formula 1, past and present?

vikiradTG2007 · March 17th, 2008, 5:08 PM

In your opinion, who was the greatest mind working behind the scenes in the teams and bringing on technological progress? The greatest engineers, the unsung heroes of Formula 1, who spent their days trying to get the last drop of performance in the car before the driver took it over on the track, and the innovators which brought along some of the most revered cars in Formula 1 history.

I want to hear your views, and then maybe I'll try making this into a poll.

HondaF1 · March 17th, 2008, 5:12 PM

Oh not another poll...

Red_Bull · March 17th, 2008, 5:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaF1

Oh not another poll...

lol...yeah bad memories spring to mind... images/smilies/tongue.gif

To answer the question very briefly (its 3am, I really should go to bed), probably Colin Chapman, Gordon Murray or John Barnard. All had revolutionary ideas that changed the sport into what we see today. Pioneers, if you like.

Peter3hg · March 17th, 2008, 6:07 PM

Jon Whyte but only because he went on to do this amazing bit of design. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Preston.

http://www.thaimtb.com/webboard/53/26566-1.jpg

vikiradTG2007 · March 17th, 2008, 6:10 PM

^^^ What has that got to do in any way with F1?

I didn't give the answer to my own question, but I'd say it must have been Colin Champan. He was the guy who engineered the appearance of many innovations in F1, and was the first man to think up clutchless gearchange, a dream only able to be fulfilled by Barnard and Postlethwaite in 1989.

Peter3hg · March 17th, 2008, 6:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

^^^ What has that got to do in any way with F1?

The title was about Engineers in F1. Jon Whyte worked as a high ranking engineer in F1 (McLaren IIRC) for many years.

Edit// It appears he was actually at Benetton during Schumi's two WC winning years there.

vikiradTG2007 · March 17th, 2008, 6:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter3hg

The title was about Engineers in F1. Jon Whyte worked as a high ranking engineer in F1 (McLaren IIRC) for many years.

OK... I never heard about the guy. Thanks for clearing it up.

Necx0 · March 17th, 2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

^^^ What has that got to do in any way with F1?

I didn't give the answer to my own question, but I'd say it must have been Colin Champan. He was the guy who engineered the appearance of many innovations in F1, and was the first man to think up clutchless gearchange, a dream only able to be fulfilled by Barnard and Postlethwaite in 1989.

That can't be right, as the 1986 Audi S1 had a clutchless gearchange, as did the Porsche 956/962's of the same year. Unless you mean paddleshift....in that case.

Chapman, Barnard, Postlethwaite all have a claim but for me Gordon Murray is almost beyond peer. Brabham fan car, BT52 and the mighty McLaren MP4/4. What a resume. To me the man is a complete genius.

Current day? Ross Brawn. While I realise he is more manager than engineer he has a very solid engineering base. He is amazing. Some people don't like him, I think he is beyond brilliant.

-Cpt. J.- · March 18th, 2008, 12:15 AM

Who thought of putting the engine in the middle in a lotus during the seventies and give the car wings? That dude. I forgot his name. images/smilies/mellow.gif

marcos_eirik · March 18th, 2008, 12:53 AM

I'd say Gordon Murray, his designs where all very representative of the "if it looks right, it is right" idea. The Brabahm BT46B "fan car" was the first of his great designs, then there was the elegant and fast BT52 "arrow" and the fiercely dominant lowline McLaren MP4/4. Allthough he did get it all wrong once, with his first of the two 'lowline' cars, the Brabham BT55. However that was mostly due to it's rubbish laying down BMW engine...

The 'fan car' that in the hands of Niki Lauda won it's one and only race, Swedish GP at Anderstorp in 1978.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/Marcoscars4life/Biler/BrabhamBT46B.jpg

The BT52 that Nelson Piquet drove to his second WDC title in 1983.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/Marcoscars4life/Biler/BrabhamBT523-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/Marcoscars4life/Biler/BrabhamBT525.jpg

The MP4/4, that in the battle between Prost and Senna in the 1988 F1 season won every race but one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/Marcoscars4life/Biler/McLarenMP44.jpg

And the BT55 that did no good at all... It's best ever finish in the 1986 F1 season was 6th...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/Marcoscars4life/Biler/BrabhamBT555.jpg

Laying down the engine to lower the POG turned out to be no good idea. It was fragile enough as it was, messing about with it, giving it an oil scavenge issue was not at all needed...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/Marcoscars4life/Biler/Brabhammotor.jpg

InfernalVortex · March 23rd, 2008, 10:49 AM

Probably Colin Chapman...

gti138 · March 23rd, 2008, 12:04 PM

I'd say Colin Chapman with Gordon Murray in 2nd place...

Red_Bull · March 23rd, 2008, 12:17 PM

Not sure Gordon Murray had much of a role in designing the Mp4-4. I think the main man behind that was Steve Nichols.

Necx0 · March 24th, 2008, 10:58 AM

I thought Nichols did the design and Murray did the engineering stuff?? But you are more of a authority on this stuff than I

March 17th, 2008, 5:08 PM	#1
vikiradTG2007 Joined: Feb 8th, 2007 Last Online: 12:47 PM Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania Age: 18 Posts: 6,609 Car: Ford Focus MkI 1.8D Rep Power: 98	Best engineering mind in Formula 1, past and present? In your opinion, who was the greatest mind working behind the scenes in the teams and bringing on technological progress? The greatest engineers, the unsung heroes of Formula 1, who spent their days trying to get the last drop of performance in the car before the driver took it over on the track, and the innovators which brought along some of the most revered cars in Formula 1 history. I want to hear your views, and then maybe I'll try making this into a poll. __________________ "There's no damage to the car, except to the car itself." (Murray Walker, 1991 British GP) 1980s-1990s F1, Group C and Supertouring nostalgic. And I'm proud of that.

March 17th, 2008, 5:12 PM	#2
HondaF1 Aussie Bastard Joined: Dec 8th, 2006 Last Online: May 12th, 2008 Location: SCOTLAND Age: 27 Posts: 4,205 Car: First Aberdeen Bus Network Rep Power: 22	Oh not another poll... __________________ I am the Honda F1 team's number one fan.... and number 2, and number 3, and 4....

March 17th, 2008, 6:07 PM	#4
Peter3hg Joined: May 3rd, 2006 Last Online: November 20th, 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Age: 20 Posts: 4,536 Car: 2006 Yamaha Fazer LFS Status: Rep Power: 44	Jon Whyte but only because he went on to do this amazing bit of design. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Preston. __________________

March 17th, 2008, 6:10 PM	#5
vikiradTG2007 Joined: Feb 8th, 2007 Last Online: 12:47 PM Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania Age: 18 Posts: 6,609 Car: Ford Focus MkI 1.8D Rep Power: 98	^^^ What has that got to do in any way with F1? I didn't give the answer to my own question, but I'd say it must have been Colin Champan. He was the guy who engineered the appearance of many innovations in F1, and was the first man to think up clutchless gearchange, a dream only able to be fulfilled by Barnard and Postlethwaite in 1989. __________________ "There's no damage to the car, except to the car itself." (Murray Walker, 1991 British GP) 1980s-1990s F1, Group C and Supertouring nostalgic. And I'm proud of that.

March 18th, 2008, 12:53 AM	#10
marcos_eirik Joined: Nov 28th, 2004 Last Online: 12:11 PM Location: Askim, Norway Age: 22 Posts: 1,614 Car: Whichever of the cars we have at home... Rep Power: 40	I'd say Gordon Murray, his designs where all very representative of the "if it looks right, it is right" idea. The Brabahm BT46B "fan car" was the first of his great designs, then there was the elegant and fast BT52 "arrow" and the fiercely dominant lowline McLaren MP4/4. Allthough he did get it all wrong once, with his first of the two 'lowline' cars, the Brabham BT55. However that was mostly due to it's rubbish laying down BMW engine... The 'fan car' that in the hands of Niki Lauda won it's one and only race, Swedish GP at Anderstorp in 1978. The BT52 that Nelson Piquet drove to his second WDC title in 1983. The MP4/4, that in the battle between Prost and Senna in the 1988 F1 season won every race but one. And the BT55 that did no good at all... It's best ever finish in the 1986 F1 season was 6th... Laying down the engine to lower the POG turned out to be no good idea. It was fragile enough as it was, messing about with it, giving it an oil scavenge issue was not at all needed... __________________ Wenn ist das Nunstruck geht und Slottermeier? Ja. Beierhund das Oder, die Flipperwald gespürt! Greetings from Norway... I miss Texas already...

March 18th, 2008, 12:15 AM	#9
-Cpt. J.- Joined: Aug 3rd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Bar stool Age: 25 Posts: 1,211 Car: Drunken Pedestrian Rep Power: 16	Who thought of putting the engine in the middle in a lotus during the seventies and give the car wings? That dude. I forgot his name.

March 23rd, 2008, 10:49 AM	#11
InfernalVortex Joined: Oct 28th, 2007 Last Online: 10:22 AM Location: Macon, Georgia, USA Age: 24 Posts: 588 Car: 92 Camaro Rep Power: 28	Probably Colin Chapman... __________________

March 23rd, 2008, 12:04 PM	#12
gti138 Joined: Apr 26th, 2005 Last Online: November 17th, 2009 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 34 Posts: 514 Car: Peugeot 206 GTi & Mazda 3 Rep Power: 22	I'd say Colin Chapman with Gordon Murray in 2nd place...

March 23rd, 2008, 12:17 PM	#13
Red_Bull Joined: Jan 11th, 2007 Last Online: 12:43 PM Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 22 Posts: 3,927 Car: Holden Commodore VS Rep Power: 95	Not sure Gordon Murray had much of a role in designing the Mp4-4. I think the main man behind that was Steve Nichols. __________________ Results from October

March 24th, 2008, 10:58 AM	#14
Necx0 Joined: Jun 21st, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Hobart, Tasmania Age: 23 Posts: 2,103 Car: R31 Skyline, Charade rally car Rep Power: 29	I thought Nichols did the design and Murray did the engineering stuff?? But you are more of a authority on this stuff than I

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