1950s cars are generally slightly front heavy. Hence they understeered from the overloading of the front tyres. Drivers had to drift before the apex, to get the nose pointed for the exit. 1960s: the beginning of mid engine cars, weight distribution now shift more rearwards. Tyres are still skinny, and hence the cars are still understeery. Except for Jim Clark and then Jackie Stewart, most drivers still drift before the apex to rotate the car. Early and Mid 70s: the introduction of wings and then ground effect cut down lap times drastically. Rear tyres are now thicker, meaning powersliding is now more viable. Gilles Villeneuve, Jochen Rindt and Ronnie Peterson being the most prominent powersliders Late 70s to early 80s: Ground effect becomes standard, but front tyres began growing thicker too. With turbo engines still not used by many, drivers began to be more neutral, but still oversteery compared to today's standards. Mid 80s: out goes ground effect, and in comes the turbos. Rear tyres grow thicker to compensate for the increase power and torque. Drivers either smoothly apply the power like Prost and Piquet, or rev their engines earlier than usual to spool up the turbo like Senna, Mansell and Keke Rosberg. Late 80s to early 90s: F1 banned turbos after Ferrari's ultimatum, but still have 1970s-esque skinny fronts and thick rear tyres. And with the introduction of active suspension, ABS & TC, the rewards for powersliding became too attractive to ignore. Mansell, Berger and then-rookie Jean Alesi being infamous during this period. Early 90s to early 2000s: electronic aids are banned, tyres got slimmer then grooved, and with the aerodynamics nerfed in response to Senna's death, F1 cars are now go-karts with wings. Schumacher's old school drifting style became the fastest way to drive. Early 2000s till mid 2000s: welcome to the 21st century! Aerodynamics has overtaken mechanical grip despite the reintroduction of TC. To maximize this, some teams build their cars to be oversteery (with the exception of Williams and Renault). Raikkonen's calm yet oversteery style representing the new generation to challenge to Hakkinen and Schumacher Late 2000s till mid 2010s: TC got banned (again), but teams figured out that gains can be made through the diffuser. Along with the comeback of very sticky slick tyres, drivers that can rotate about the rear axle wins big 🎰 Vettel, Alonso, and Hamilton (to a certain extent) are shining examples for others to copy. Mid 2010s till 2021: diffusers become even more crucial for teams that do not have Mercedes or Ferrari engines. Suspension geometry became the most advanced till date, and so the return of drifting driving styles became popular once more. Ricciardo, and more crucially Verstappen, became the upcoming standards. 2022-2025: the simplification of suspension compenents, alongside the return of ground effect made cars "rear-heavy". And with tyres still being soft and sticky, neutral or even slight understeer driving styles became the solution. Piastri, Norris, Sainz and Alonso showed spectators that with the right technique, you can spar with Verstappen if the conditions were right.
What a nice summary. This driving style breakdown has a great potential. Do you think you would be able to analyze driving styles of simracing drivers in the future?
I have mentioned in other more technical videos that driving styles are a spectrum of smooth to aggressive. Not "one is smooth one is aggressive", which is oversimplified for the wider audience to understand.
Check out the F1 driving style database 👉www.driving-style.com/
1950s cars are generally slightly front heavy. Hence they understeered from the overloading of the front tyres.
Drivers had to drift before the apex, to get the nose pointed for the exit.
1960s: the beginning of mid engine cars, weight distribution now shift more rearwards. Tyres are still skinny, and hence the cars are still understeery. Except for Jim Clark and then Jackie Stewart, most drivers still drift before the apex to rotate the car.
Early and Mid 70s: the introduction of wings and then ground effect cut down lap times drastically. Rear tyres are now thicker, meaning powersliding is now more viable. Gilles Villeneuve, Jochen Rindt and Ronnie Peterson being the most prominent powersliders
Late 70s to early 80s: Ground effect becomes standard, but front tyres began growing thicker too. With turbo engines still not used by many, drivers began to be more neutral, but still oversteery compared to today's standards.
Mid 80s: out goes ground effect, and in comes the turbos. Rear tyres grow thicker to compensate for the increase power and torque. Drivers either smoothly apply the power like Prost and Piquet, or rev their engines earlier than usual to spool up the turbo like Senna, Mansell and Keke Rosberg.
Late 80s to early 90s: F1 banned turbos after Ferrari's ultimatum, but still have 1970s-esque skinny fronts and thick rear tyres. And with the introduction of active suspension, ABS & TC, the rewards for powersliding became too attractive to ignore. Mansell, Berger and then-rookie Jean Alesi being infamous during this period.
Early 90s to early 2000s: electronic aids are banned, tyres got slimmer then grooved, and with the aerodynamics nerfed in response to Senna's death, F1 cars are now go-karts with wings. Schumacher's old school drifting style became the fastest way to drive.
Early 2000s till mid 2000s: welcome to the 21st century! Aerodynamics has overtaken mechanical grip despite the reintroduction of TC. To maximize this, some teams build their cars to be oversteery (with the exception of Williams and Renault). Raikkonen's calm yet oversteery style representing the new generation to challenge to Hakkinen and Schumacher
Late 2000s till mid 2010s: TC got banned (again), but teams figured out that gains can be made through the diffuser. Along with the comeback of very sticky slick tyres, drivers that can rotate about the rear axle wins big 🎰
Vettel, Alonso, and Hamilton (to a certain extent) are shining examples for others to copy.
Mid 2010s till 2021: diffusers become even more crucial for teams that do not have Mercedes or Ferrari engines. Suspension geometry became the most advanced till date, and so the return of drifting driving styles became popular once more. Ricciardo, and more crucially Verstappen, became the upcoming standards.
2022-2025: the simplification of suspension compenents, alongside the return of ground effect made cars "rear-heavy". And with tyres still being soft and sticky, neutral or even slight understeer driving styles became the solution. Piastri, Norris, Sainz and Alonso showed spectators that with the right technique, you can spar with Verstappen if the conditions were right.
Interesting analysis!
The car on the old onboards feels so quick, agile
It's because the cameras are steadier and have a lower field of view😊
That's a camera thing. Cars nowadays are more agile (even though they are a LOT heavier).
0:04 Ah yes, the 1900s.
Ye olden times😅
Yes, the 1900s. You could also say the 20th century, but 1900s also works. So yes, the 1900s.
ah yes kubica in the 1990s
Kubica was born in the 80's. Therefore there was no possible way he could have driven f1 in the 90's.
Yep you're right
What a nice summary. This driving style breakdown has a great potential. Do you think you would be able to analyze driving styles of simracing drivers in the future?
Perhaps...
What an informative video! Great content!
Thanks so much!
basically old F1 cars turns like go kart
The AI voice is killing this video. Literally. Niki London???
Good vid but I'd lose the music while you are talking. When you have V10s, you don't need it.
Thanks for the feedback! Will definitely implement that:)
@@WolfeF1Explained Also saves hunting down CC licences! Really good vid though.
Your "evolution" assumes a binary world of just 2 driving styles, which are not even mutually exclusive, as you want to make us believe.
I have mentioned in other more technical videos that driving styles are a spectrum of smooth to aggressive. Not "one is smooth one is aggressive", which is oversimplified for the wider audience to understand.