FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[darwin dali]

F1live:
Nico Rosberg has hit out at F1's current minimum weight rule.

The Williams racer suggests that, combined with the addition of heavy KERS systems in 2009, the tendency is to unfairly penalise the heavier or taller drivers.

The minimum weight in F1 is 605kg including car and driver.

But with KERS systems weighing between 25 and 40kg, heavy drivers now have even less scope to distribute ballast around the car, to achieve an ideal weight distribution.

So far, it has emerged that, in preparation for 2009, Rubens Barrichello, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso have deliberately lost weight.

"I have lost weight and even at Christmas was counting calories," Nico Rosberg now reveals.

"I think the weight rule is unfair because bigger drivers are disadvantaged even before they start," the 23-year-old German told Speedweek magazine.

"I think it should be urgently talked about in the (drivers' association) GPDA," he said.

Rosberg argues that a variable weight limit, based on the weight of individual drivers, should be installed so that the heavier drivers are not disadvantaged.

BMW's Robert Kubica, standing at about 6 feet or 185cm, shed several kilograms before last season and now weighs sub-70kg, but vows to lose no more for fear of losing strength or fitness, the Cologne newspaper Express said.

Rosberg is 178cm and weighs about 70kg. The diminutive Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa are both believed to weigh less than 60kg.




I wonder what Mr. Chubby would say to this?


Discuss the problem and potential fixes!

[Rivelution]

The last thing I want to see are F1 drivers eating like wrestlers and starve themselves before races. I dont think a minimum weight rule is the way to go, because its just as unfair to punish the lighter drivers for being light.

I think the way to fix this is to have an equal weight in every cockpit. Lets just say the FIA issued a regulation stating that there is to be 165 lbs in the drivers cockpit. So if a driver weighed 125 lbs, 153 lbs, etc .etc. you just add weights in the car (like making the seat heavier, or something) to match 165 lbs.


Do you guys catch my drift, or am I smoking too much pot?

[Rivelution]

Rosberg argues that a variable weight limit, based on the weight of individual drivers, should be installed so that the heavier drivers are not disadvantaged.

Wow he already said that. I am smoking to much pot.

[bud]

Massa and Heidfeld are pindicks

[SarahB62]

by Rivelution on 31 Jan 09, 06:26

The last thing I want to see are F1 drivers eating like wrestlers and starve themselves before races. I dont think a minimum weight rule is the way to go, because its just as unfair to punish the lighter drivers for being light.

I think the way to fix this is to have an equal weight in every cockpit. Lets just say the FIA issued a regulation stating that there is to be 165 lbs in the drivers cockpit. So if a driver weighed 125 lbs, 153 lbs, etc .etc. you just add weights in the car (like making the seat heavier, or something) to match 165 lbs.


Do you guys catch my drift, or am I smoking too much pot?

Totally agree that F1 drivers should not be put in a position where they have to either live on McDonalds or lettuce.

I hear what you are saying about equalising the drivers cockpit weight ... in horse racing/3 day eventing, lead weights are added to saddlepads to equalise the weight acoss the field. However, it is more difficult to carry inert weight than carry a rider who hits the mark. Not being expert in anyway I would think that the lighter drivers would be disadvantaged by having to have inert weight added to the cockpit area.

PS Share you pot with us or maybe I have had some already!

[7UpJordan]

I wonder what Mr. Chubby would say to this?

I was waiting for that to be mentioned the moment I clicked on the topic.

Nico has a good idea, a variable weight limit based on the drivers' weight should be implemented. Some drivers even if they are very lean just can't get any lighter, I think Webber spoke about this a while ago.

Coulthard revealed in his autobiography that he became bulemic when he was about 15 so he could be light as possible and therefore quicker when competing in karting. This is the last thing we want to see drivers doing, it would set a very bad example not only to drivers in the lower formulae fans but aspiring young karters and younger fans too. Max, put down the whip and sort it out.

As for Heidfeld, I thought he would be weighed down by all his facial hair.

[8-ball]

I wonder what Mr. Chubby would say to this?

I was waiting for that to be mentioned the moment I clicked on the topic.

Nico has a good idea, a variable weight limit based on the drivers' weight should be implemented. Some drivers even if they are very lean just can't get any lighter, I think Webber spoke about this a while ago.

Kubica is a perfect example of this. He is quite tall for an F1 driver and so naturally has more weight to carry around. So implementing Nico's idea will be a good thing to ensure drivers are as healthy as possible.

As for Heidfeld, I thought he would be weighed down by all his facial hair.

[bud]

As for Heidfeld, I thought he would be weighed down by all his facial hair.

i thought that, easily 5kg right there!

[darwin dali]

by Rivelution on 31 Jan 09, 06:26

The last thing I want to see are F1 drivers eating like wrestlers and starve themselves before races. I dont think a minimum weight rule is the way to go, because its just as unfair to punish the lighter drivers for being light.

I think the way to fix this is to have an equal weight in every cockpit. Lets just say the FIA issued a regulation stating that there is to be 165 lbs in the drivers cockpit. So if a driver weighed 125 lbs, 153 lbs, etc .etc. you just add weights in the car (like making the seat heavier, or something) to match 165 lbs.


Do you guys catch my drift, or am I smoking too much pot?

Totally agree that F1 drivers should not be put in a position where they have to either live on McDonalds or lettuce.

I hear what you are saying about equalising the drivers cockpit weight ... in horse racing/3 day eventing, lead weights are added to saddlepads to equalise the weight acoss the field. However, it is more difficult to carry inert weight than carry a rider who hits the mark. Not being expert in anyway I would think that the lighter drivers would be disadvantaged by having to have inert weight added to the cockpit area.

PS Share you pot with us or maybe I have had some already!

I don't think you can compare a moving horse-rider combo with a moving F1 car whose driver is securely strapped into his seat and doesn't move around much. The few moving body parts like head or arms while cornering are comparable in weight between drivers. In other words, an F1 driver is basically as inert a weight as additional weight that was put in the seat (or wherever) to make weight. And certainly not nearly as dynamic as a horse rider.

[Stealthgate007]

by Rivelution on 31 Jan 09, 06:26

The last thing I want to see are F1 drivers eating like wrestlers and starve themselves before races. I dont think a minimum weight rule is the way to go, because its just as unfair to punish the lighter drivers for being light.

I think the way to fix this is to have an equal weight in every cockpit. Lets just say the FIA issued a regulation stating that there is to be 165 lbs in the drivers cockpit. So if a driver weighed 125 lbs, 153 lbs, etc .etc. you just add weights in the car (like making the seat heavier, or something) to match 165 lbs.


Do you guys catch my drift, or am I smoking too much pot?

Totally agree that F1 drivers should not be put in a position where they have to either live on McDonalds or lettuce.

I hear what you are saying about equalising the drivers cockpit weight ... in horse racing/3 day eventing, lead weights are added to saddlepads to equalise the weight acoss the field. However, it is more difficult to carry inert weight than carry a rider who hits the mark. Not being expert in anyway I would think that the lighter drivers would be disadvantaged by having to have inert weight added to the cockpit area.

PS Share you pot with us or maybe I have had some already!

I don't think you can compare a moving horse-rider combo with a moving F1 car whose driver is securely strapped into his seat and doesn't move around much. The few moving body parts like head or arms while cornering are comparable in weight between drivers. In other words, an F1 driver is basically as inert a weight as additional weight that was put in the seat (or wherever) to make weight. And certainly not nearly as dynamic as a horse rider.

I'm figuring out the issue of inert weight and why it would hurt the lighter drivers. Its weight that would go directly under them or in their specific area, not to be confused with ballast that can go anywhere to get the perfect set-up. The reason Kubica lost the weight was so they could ad it back at different parts of the car for set up... So I'm a little confused?

[darwin dali]

by Rivelution on 31 Jan 09, 06:26

The last thing I want to see are F1 drivers eating like wrestlers and starve themselves before races. I dont think a minimum weight rule is the way to go, because its just as unfair to punish the lighter drivers for being light.

I think the way to fix this is to have an equal weight in every cockpit. Lets just say the FIA issued a regulation stating that there is to be 165 lbs in the drivers cockpit. So if a driver weighed 125 lbs, 153 lbs, etc .etc. you just add weights in the car (like making the seat heavier, or something) to match 165 lbs.


Do you guys catch my drift, or am I smoking too much pot?

Totally agree that F1 drivers should not be put in a position where they have to either live on McDonalds or lettuce.

I hear what you are saying about equalising the drivers cockpit weight ... in horse racing/3 day eventing, lead weights are added to saddlepads to equalise the weight acoss the field. However, it is more difficult to carry inert weight than carry a rider who hits the mark. Not being expert in anyway I would think that the lighter drivers would be disadvantaged by having to have inert weight added to the cockpit area.

PS Share you pot with us or maybe I have had some already!

I don't think you can compare a moving horse-rider combo with a moving F1 car whose driver is securely strapped into his seat and doesn't move around much. The few moving body parts like head or arms while cornering are comparable in weight between drivers. In other words, an F1 driver is basically as inert a weight as additional weight that was put in the seat (or wherever) to make weight. And certainly not nearly as dynamic as a horse rider.

I'm figuring out the issue of inert weight and why it would hurt the lighter drivers. Its weight that would go directly under them or in their specific area, not to be confused with ballast that can go anywhere to get the perfect set-up. The reason Kubica lost the weight was so they could ad it back at different parts of the car for set up... So I'm a little confused?

A horse rider is constantly moving around, up and down, forward and back, etc., to help the horse with the weight distribution. The lighter riders who have to pack lead weights to make weight lose that capability to a certain degree because those lead weights are stationary and not moving dynamically. An F1 driver does not do this and is hence an inert weight.

[SarahB62]

Great response Darwin

[cap-dude]

This wasn't a probelm for most before KERS

But yeah, some drivers are really tall. I mean, Sutil and Kubica are prime examples. Whilst Massa and Heidfeld top the small list.
But wait, the minuim weight for the cars is there so teams don't make the cars extremely light. Can't they make the cars a tad lighter to accomdate for heavier drivers, in some sort of way. Probably wrong, but just a thought.

[darwin dali]

This wasn't a probelm for most before KERS

But yeah, some drivers are really tall. I mean, Sutil and Kubica are prime examples. Whilst Massa and Heidfeld top the small list.
But wait, the minuim weight for the cars is there so teams don't make the cars extremely light. Can't they make the cars a tad lighter to accomdate for heavier drivers, in some sort of way. Probably wrong, but just a thought.

They already do that and then add the ballast to make weight. This is exactly the problem: the lighter drivers afford the team to have more ballast to play with re. weight distribution.

[f1ea]

Great response Darwin

Yup. Pretty accurate. Another more related example would be Moto GP though...
having such a dynamic weight distribution improves performance in situations like corners, braking and accel; by the driver throwing his weight as needed. But as DD says, F1 drivers can't move too much inside the cockpit, so there is not much... dynamicity that's why ballast placement is more relevant in F1