F1 in 2011, a story of pedals!
Faced with the phenomenon of acne affecting Formula 1 steering wheels, some teams are competing with ingenuity.
At the start of this season, new features are plentiful. Besides the change of manufacturer and the introduction of an Indian Grand Prix, 2011 saw the arrival of the removable rear wing and the return of the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS).
This was not without causing problems: Felipe Massa, for example, complained before the first Grand Prix about the number of buttons adorning the steering wheel of a modern F1 car and the danger of such a trend. This observation was even almost one of the starting points of a strike, with Sebastian Vettel appearing to be at the forefront.
Despite everything, some teams have bypassed the difficulties and have doubled their inventiveness or cunning in implementing these two essential systems in gaining performance.
Regarding the movable wing, two different systems from the simple button have been implemented at Mercedes and McLaren. The German team has opted for a third pedal, located near the brake pedal, so that the driver cannot use both at the same time for safety reasons. However, when the driver is accelerating, their left foot is free to operate the system.
As for the British team, they have chosen a system of paddles placed behind the steering wheel, similar to gear shift paddles, allowing the mechanism to be activated and deactivated with a simple press.
For the SREC, the situation is the same. The German magazine Auto Motor und Sport revealed that some teams, including Renault, had implemented a system to activate the KERS with a simple, more intense press on the accelerator pedal. This system had been put in place in 2009 at BMW-Sauber, and Nick Heidfeld himself had the idea. This mechanism might be one of the reasons for the strong performance of the R31 during starts.
At Ferrari, this boost would be activated using buttons located at the back of the steering wheel, slightly clearing the cluttered front of the latter.
