Will the extra gear increase cars top speed in the race by comparison? I realise due to the power to weight ratio the absolute top speed would remain the same, but cars rarely hit the rev limiter in the race so they are not hitting absolute top speed. If I am right that an extra gear would aid acceleration does that mean the cars will increase top speed or to put it another way, come closer to absolute top speed in the races than they currently achieve.
[1] By comparison to what? I will presume you mean by comparison to 7 gears, but whether 7 or 8 ratios, top gear (longest ratio) will be very similar, especially at a circuit with long straights (e.g. Monza) where it will probably be identical. (Hence the 'piece of string' analogy I gave elsewhere). The number of different gears impacts upon the ability to optimise engine power and torque more often ('flexibility'), with more gears giving greater potential for acceleration because they allow an engine to run closer to optimum power and torque for longer over the duration of a lap. However, choosing 7 ratios specifically for a circuit will offset 8 'general purpose' gears –despite the 8's greater 'general flexibility' over several circuits and despite not be quite so 'idealised' for any of them. When one is at liberty to choose ratios for a specific circuit, choices will be made according to specific corners where the lowest speed of the corner is already known. This choice of a specific gear ratio –where, at this lowest cornering speed, the engine will be producing peak torque– maximises acceleration from the corner. I hope it will be seen that the differences in performance will be negligible, because doing away with the opportunity to choose gears more tailored for specific circuits will be offset by having an extra one, allowing an engine to run optimally for longer. Besides, the final gear ratio could in fact be identical (theoretically the exact thing that comes out of a 7 speed box)! To sum up: Seven properly chosen, 'ideal' gears will allow a car to reach optimum speed as soon as is possible with 7 ratios, at a given circuit. Eight slightly less ideal gears will allow a car to reach optimum speed very close to the same place on a circuit because the extra flexibility of 8 offsets the 7 speed box's circuit specific ratios. Top gear will tend to be very similar but will be chosen according to several circuits rather than potentially just one; but this is offset by slightly better acceleration, due to the arguments outlined above. Hence top speeds will be very, very similar for any engine's specific output and far more dependant upon power to weight ratios: in particular, aerodynamic drag*. [2] Hitting the rev limiter in top gear can always be cancelled out by choosing a longer ratio for top gear, regardless of how many ratios are available in the gearbox. - - -o0o- - - *Since drag increases with the squaring of speed, this becomes an ever more dominant factor as speeds get higher.
I was always under the impression that the more gears a car has, the more driveable it is, as it is able to stay in it's power range more. The only production car i know that has 8 gears is the Lexus IS-F, which is supposed to be pretty driveable thanks to always being in it's power band.
Yes, this is the general case; and if you look carefully, you'll find I've said this. What you have described is 'flexibility'. The reason for my longer explanation is that racing cars have usually been allowed to choose specific gear ratios at each circuit, in order to maximise the engine characteristics as far as possible at each circuit; and has always been the case with F1. In this sense, the gearbox is 'tuned' for each circuit: something which will soon be compromised by the new regulations; but will be offset by having the extra gear, where closer ratios will compensate to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the choices a team decides upon.
I can't see VW getting involved, they've always been reluctant to commit. If they do link up with Sauber I think it will be as a title sponsor rather than anything technical, similar to Lotus sponsoring the old Renault team, without the controversy, confusion and court cases. Hopefully...
But it will also work well off the startline because there will be little or no wheelspin and it’s easier to achieve a constant torque with an electric motor compared to a petrol engine and carbon clutch. But they are supposed to be the best drivers in the world, that sounds too much like a driver aid to me. Surely that is one of the things we love, who manages best off the line, where places can be made and lost before the 1st corner. As previous poster says there is nothing like the sound of 20 - 24 cars peaking around 18,000 RPM off the line, it's starting to become too sanitised.
