BONUS: The secrets of semi-automatic gearboxes

This week we have a bonus episode for you, lifted directly from our sister podcast: The Race F1 Tech Show.

Each week, host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson dive headfirst into the wonderful world of F1 technology, discussing the sport’s big technical talking points, getting into the nitty gritty of car design and engineering, and answering fans’ burning tech questions.

On this week’s show, Edd and Gary take an in-depth look at a bit of serious F1 tech that’s used by every team on the grid: The semi-automatic gearbox. 

With the help of special guest John Barnard, the man responsible for bringing the first iteration of the paddle-shift box to F1 in 1989 with Ferrari, we look at how the technology works, what performance benefits the system has brought to F1, and how gearboxes have developed over the last 30-plus years. 

Gary also talks through his experience of developing such technology at Jordan in the Nineties, but not before giving his opinion on F1’s recent cost cap controversy... 

And in our listener questions section, Gary answers a question on the performance characteristics of 2022-spec F1 cars in wet conditions and low-speed corners.

To have your burning tech question answered on the show, send a voicenote or email to [email protected]

And if you enjoy the podcast, please search for The Race F1 Tech Show in your preferred podcast app and be sure to like, subscribe or follow to make sure you never miss an episode.

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