Formula 1
Less electronics will make life interesting
In 2004 fully automatic gearboxes and launch control are banned and some drivers think it will make races more interesting. Without launch control, it will be up to those behind the wheel to make sure the car gets off the line. "The starts will be ...
Published: Feb 4, 2004, 6:54 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
In 2004 fully automatic gearboxes and launch control are banned and some drivers think it will make races more interesting. Without launch control, it will be up to those behind the wheel to make sure the car gets off the line. "The starts will be pretty interesting because you've really got to control the clutch," said Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya.
Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya.
Photo by Sutton Motorsport Images.
Teammate Ralf Schumacher thinks it will make for more on-track action: "Well certainly it's one more mistake a driver can do," he said. "At the start it used to be quite easy to blame a bad start on the team, now it's back in my control. What's good is that we'll have less consistent starts, so more mistakes and more overtaking."
Lack of launch control is not good news for some; Renault had the system working well last year and had some brilliant starts but that advantage has gone now. "Launch control has been banned so we will just have to start manually, which is a good challenge," said Jarno Trulli at the launch of the R24. "We are working on it, trying to develop a system, but it will be a lot down to the driver."
Traction control remains though, which can help: "It's up to us (drivers) now to prove ourselves and do good manual starts," commented Fernando Alonso. "It'll be ok, we'll have the traction control on so it's not that difficult."
The drivers face more work with no automatic gearbox. Williams will now operate gearshifts by a paddle behind the steering wheel. "For the first five laps shifting was pretty hard because you're so used to not shifting," said Montoya. "After ten, fifteen laps you get used to it though. It will certainly be interesting next year, that's for sure."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article BAR launches 006 in Barcelona
Next article BAR could leave UK
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Juan Pablo Montoya
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
IndyCar
IndyCar
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
More from
Williams
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Fernando Alonso blasts driving standards of bottom half of F1 grid
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Fernando Alonso blasts driving standards of bottom half of F1 grid
Latest news
NASCAR VP explains Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry penalties
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
2 h
NASCAR VP explains Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry penalties
Colton Herta to run Cadillac FP1 in Brazil as FIA superlicense quest continues
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Colton Herta to run Cadillac FP1 in Brazil as FIA superlicense quest continues
NASCAR issues penalties to Carson Hocevar and Josh Berry for Martinsville brake-checks
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
3 h
NASCAR issues penalties to Carson Hocevar and Josh Berry for Martinsville brake-checks
NASCAR making progress with short track show but drivers still want more
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
4 h
NASCAR making progress with short track show but drivers still want more
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe