Why are F1 cars open wheel?

[MadCow809]

My point is that open wheel racing isn't the definition of F1. People might have associated open wheel design machineries with F1, but the open wheel feature itself does not represent F1, as many various forms of motorsport adopt the same concept.

It definitely isn't an unique character about F1.

 

[mpicco]

Doesn't the suspension and balance become easier in an open wheel car? Isn't that why buggies are open wheel? They're like spiders spreading the weight over a big area instead of being like elephants.

 

[Pininfarina_]

lol, is F1 is the only form of open wheel racing you know?


LMAO

Bit of tunnel vision there.

They would lose SO much cool factor though.

I still stand by my point. Whether or not closed wheels make the car faster, it would feel amazingly different if the cars weren't open wheel.

The cars themselves already look supernatural (especially before the fish-like body parts were banned) and putting covers on the wheels would liken them to everyday cars. Closing the wheels would lose a significant amount of bedroomwallposterfanboyism


edit: THATS WHY WE DONT FUCKING WANT 4 POTS. NOT ENOUGH COOL FACTOR.

 

[SpitfireMK461]

Doesn't the suspension and balance become easier in an open wheel car? Isn't that why buggies are open wheel? They're like spiders spreading the weight over a big area instead of being like elephants.

I imagine buggies use open wheels so they can have massive suspension travel. Road racers need a few inches at most so they can get away easily with wheel housings.

 

[ALXBWSCREW]

putting covers on the wheels would liken them to everyday cars. Closing the wheels would lose a significant amount of bedroomwallposterfanboyism

Yeah...right. You tell me this doesn't look as badass as it can get.

http://pic.armedcats.net/a/al/alxbwscrew/2011/06/02/Peugeot-908-HYbrid4-front-angle500-x-308.jpg

http://pic.armedcats.net/a/al/alxbwscrew/2011/06/02/908-HYBRID4-1.jpg

 

[vikiradTG2007]

Closing the wheels would lose a significant amount of bedroomwallposterfanboyism

Don't make me dump a load of pictures of Group C cars in this thread, your eyes would explode from the gigantic amount of bedroomwallposterfanboyism.

 

[mpicco]

I agree losing the open wheels would make it not Formula 1 anymore. In fact the concept is so attached to it, that even though Formula means any number of regulations that any racing series imposes on it's constructors for them to build their cars, people refer to feeder/smaller open wheel series as "baby formula cars" (remember like when Hammond had to drive the Renault around the short Silverstone circuit and was talking about the Formula Renault cars and the World series by Renault).

And... no I don't like LeMans cars too much they look fat and big. Even worse if they sport a HYBRID tag on their side, eugh

 

[vikiradTG2007]

And... no I don't like LeMans cars too much they look fat and big. Even worse if they sport a HYBRID tag on their side, eugh

Philistine. :lol: Put a Sauber-Mercedes C11 and a current F1 car in front of each other, the F1 car would run away and cry when it comes to absolute power and aural pleasure.

 

[mpicco]

Philistine. :lol: Put a Sauber-Mercedes C11 and a current F1 car in front of each other, the F1 car would run away and cry when it comes to absolute power and aural pleasure.

If by run away you mean lap the circuit plenty of seconds faster, then yes.

 

[vikiradTG2007]

If by run away you mean lap the circuit plenty of seconds faster, then yes.

It's not all about the speed.

And don't make me break out the onboard video of the 1990 Le Mans Nissan pole lap with 1100bhp on tap.

 

[mpicco]

It's not all about the speed.

And don't make me break out the onboard video of the 1990 Le Mans Nissan pole lap with 1100bhp on tap.

Way to contradict yourself

 

[SpitfireMK461]

There is a way to have closed wheels yet retain the open wheel look and feel.

I'd like to see F1 experiment with that.

 

[narf]

Those front brakes probably are dripping out after a few corners.

 

[ALXBWSCREW]

Those front brakes probably are dripping out after a few corners.

Brake ducts are on the inside part of a wheel.

 

[Pininfarina_]

Brake ducts are on the inside part of a wheel.

I'd suspect brake ducts won't help much when 90% of the wheel is covered....

 

[narf]

The air needs to leave the inside of the wheel as well.

 

[mpicco]

That honestly looks like crap... I'd stop watching it if it went that idiotic.
Also that's an interesting way to cook a driver inside his seat.

Reminds me of those Indy concepts that had emerged...

And they went with the most conventional one, I think for good obvious reasons.

 

[Lupin_IV]

And they went with the most conventional one, I think for good obvious reasons.

Because it was designed by the manufacturer that was already supplying all the cars for IndyCar competition?

 

[Pininfarina_]

That honestly looks like crap... I'd stop watching it if it went that idiotic.
Also that's an interesting way to cook a driver inside his seat.

Reminds me of those Indy concepts that had emerged...


And they went with the most conventional one, I think for good obvious reasons.

Says a lot when they name their car lola.

 

[narf]

Says a lot when they name their car lola.

That's the name of the company, same with Dallara and the others.