Shift paddles F1

This blog is devoted to one of the most important technical inventions in F1. Namely the: Shift Paddle. This one was brought into Formula 1 by Ferrari in the year 1989. But before we can analyze this invention we have to go to the year 1901

The beginning!

The year is 1901, most cars are still running on steam. Whether you can really call these machines cars is another discussion, but for the sake of convenience we'll just call them cars for now. One of the most important pioneers in this field is Mr: Amédée-Ernest Bollée. As you already suspect from the name, this gentleman is of French descent. He was the ''father of the shift paddle''. For the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1901, he came up with his invention to shift gears by means of a mechanism on the handlebars (see photos below).

Fast forward to the year 1989. Ferrari had already tested the years before, but in 1989 finally came the very first victory with a shift paddle car. The 639 was designed by John Barnard, credited with both the introduction of the revolutionary seven-speed semi-automatic F-1 paddle shifter gearbox and the carbon fiber composite chassis. Barnard, who had joined Ferrari from McLaren at the end of the 1986 season, had begun designing the car in 1987 with the intent of competing in the 1988 season. However, continual problems with the 639 and later 640's revolutionary semi-automatic gearbox saw the team forced to use the turbocharged F1/87/88C in 1988. The all-new semi-automatic gearbox was initially problematic but the problem proved to be a lack of battery power which was resolved in mid-1989 by the electrical experts from Magneti Marelli. The development work and testing program for the 639 was conducted at Ferrari's private test track Fiorano by Factory drivers Nigel Mansell, Gerhard Berger and test driver Roberto Moreno during 1988 and into 1989. 

How does a shift paddle car work?

To understand how paddle shifters work, we first need to understand engine transmissions. An automatic transmission does all the work for you by shifting the engine's gear automatically. An automatic transmission with paddle shifters (semi-automatic) provides the best to race, using your paddle shifters, you can select your gear with the paddles. You can upshift to go from 1st gear to 2nd gear, but then quickly upshift again to shift into 3rd gear when the RPM's reach a point above stall speed. Ofcourse when you miss shift you will have a speed disadvantage. Crucially, in a semi-automatic there is no clutch pedal, as is the case with an automatic car. Instead, the car's CPU and sensors operate the clutch when the driver changes gear this via 2 paddle's behind the steeringwheel with on the right upshifting  and on the left downshifting. A set of actuators and a hydraulic motor sit where the gear lever and clutch pedal would be in a manual.

Nowadays almost every race car has shift paddles and road cars like mercedes, bmw etc. also have an option for shift paddles. Another piece of Formula 1 that is in a 'daily' roadcar.

Rick