Fully automatic gearboxes

[52Paddy]

I've just read on some other forums (old posts) that F1 ran fully automatic gearboxes one year. What year was that and was it successful? It was either a complete failure or a huge success if it lasted for one year surely :p :

Also, did F1 cars ever use a sequential gear shifter (i.e. sequential system but with a gear-stick, not a flappy-paddle). Looking at videos from 1991, McLaren used a H-box. In 1992, they caught up with Williams and implemented a semi-auto transmission which was used in conjunction with a flappy paddle. Did any teams ever use the sequential stick method or was it by-passed?

[Mark]

It wasn't a fully automatic as you would understand it in a road car. The cars simply changed gear themselves both according to engine revs and position on the circuit.

The FIA then changed the rules to say that gear changes must be actuated by the driver.

[SGWilko]

I think it was '93. I know that Michael Andretti in the McLaren used to start a race in full auto mode according to Autosport/Motorsport articles at the time. Also, teams would have a button on the wheel that would auto change down for specific corners.

'93 was the last year of full auto, active ride, launch/traction control and ABS (except it didn't apply to Benetton of course!!!) ;)

[Malbec]

I remember footage of JV driving in a BAR about 2000? 2001? where he was driving with an automatic gearbox. I don't think it was for just one season though.

[Bruce D]

I think in about 2002-03 they had fully auto boxes too. I remember Williams had a "preprogram" system on their downchanges, so when still going flat out to a corner the driver could select the amount of downchanges they wanted for the corner and then when they braked and the revs dropped enough, the box would automatically downchange for them. A good example of this would be the onboard lap of Montoya at Monza 2002 when he did the quali lap, you can see on the onboard between the 2nd chicane and Lesmo 1 he's pulling the downchange paddle but it only downchanges in the braking zone.

[Bruce D]

As for sequential boxes, hmm, yeah I think that technology was kinda skipped by F1, I don't really remember any F1 cars having it, they all went from H-pattern to semi-auto. I think in his podcast with MotorSport Magazine Patrick Head says that their semi-auto system was a semi-auto sequential system like a motorcycle gearbox, whereas the Ferrari was a semi-auto of the H-pattern and therefore why they had less reliability issues with it in the beginning than Williams did in '91.

[52Paddy]

Thanks all for your input. That's a good insight.

[Rollo]

Also, did F1 cars ever use a sequential gear shifter (i.e. sequential system but with a gear-stick, not a flappy-paddle). Looking at videos from 1991, McLaren used a H-box. In 1992, they caught up with Williams and implemented a semi-auto transmission which was used in conjunction with a flappy paddle. Did any teams ever use the sequential stick method or was it by-passed?

in 1992 Jordan 192 had a seven speed sequential box developed in-house. (Still looking for a photograph though)

The Ferrari 640 (1989) was a seven speed sequential semi-automatic flappy-paddle box.
Onboard 1989 F1 With the 2 ferrari driver - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCM5wMfXKzA)

[52Paddy]

in 1992 Jordan 192 had a seven speed sequential box developed in-house. (Still looking for a photograph though)

The Ferrari 640 (1989) was a seven speed sequential semi-automatic flappy-paddle box.
Onboard 1989 F1 With the 2 ferrari driver - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCM5wMfXKzA)

I see. But my main query was with regard to the stick shifter. Did the 1992 Jordan use a stick? The Ferrari in 89 didn't so isn't really the answer to my question but I appreciate the info anyway. It's all good :)

[Bruce D]

I heard something the other day where Barrichello said he'd never driven a stick-shift car before, and he drove the Jordan in '93, so they may have had something in '92, but stick shift was more common in Indycars at that time, mainly cos their rules banned semi-auto gearboxes.

[52Paddy]

There is a video of Ukyo Katayama driving his 92 Larrouse at Suzuka that year and he is using a stick shift of some kind. Whether it is sequential or H-box I don't know but, if you look at the on-screen telemetry, it is a H-box icon.

[Mark]

I believe the last H box cars were the Forti's in around 1996

[52Paddy]

I believe the last H box cars were the Forti's in around 1996

I read the same somewhere, though I recall it was the 1995 car (which was actually a revised 1991/2 Coloni!).