SUMMARY
- Ferrari was the first team to introduce the Paddle shift to F1 in 1989.
- The Forti FG01 was the last car to use the gear sticks in 1995.
Today we see all the F1 cars using a paddle shift to change gears. This is not only more convenient for the drivers, but it is also more safer. Today there are several road cars with the same gear system. However, this technology was not always present.
Back when F1 first started, the technology for paddle shifts was non-existent. Hence, the cars were installed with the standard gear sticks. At the time, this was the most convenient way to shift gears in an F1 car. However, there were several risks involved.
When did F1 transition from the classic gear sticks to paddle shifters?
In 1989, Ferrari implemented paddle shifters in their F1 cars. They were the first-ever team to do so in an F1 race. After witnessing the success and convenience of these paddle shifters, most of the other teams followed. However, the FIA had still not made the paddle shifters mandatory for the cars.
By the 1995 season, almost all the team had transitioned to the paddle shifters as it was considered to be more efficient. The Forti FG01 was the last car to use the gear sticks in an F1 car. Since then, none of the F1 teams have used the outdated tech.
@1990sF1 6 Years after Ferrari introduced a Semi-Automatic Gearbox, the 1995 Forti FG01 was the last F1 car to use a traditional manual box! pic.twitter.com/66vEY0yd1x
— David Sullivan (@15DavidSullivan) November 24, 2016
In today’s F1 cars, the gearbox is much more advanced. Along with the paddle shifts, the drivers no longer need to press the clutch while shifting gears. This makes the gear shifts much faster and smoother. The clutch in the modern F1 car is only used at the start of the race or during any incidents to keep the engine running.
Unlike the old F1 cars or today’s road cars, the clutch is located at the back of the steering wheel in the modern Formula 1 car. This makes it easier for the drivers as there is not much room for 3 pedals in the cockpit.
Modern-day F1 gearbox: How much does it cost?
The Modern Gearbox for Formula 1 cars costs somewhere around $350,000. This cost will vary depending on the manufacturer as some teams will choose to make minor adjustments within the regulations.
To increase the sustainability of F1, the FIA allows only 5 gearboxes to be used throughout the season. However, most of the teams take extras by paying a penalty fine along with a grid drop penalty. Given that F1 is now increasing the number of races on the calendar, we could see more gearboxes being used in the coming season.
Suzuka 1991
Ayrton Senna was the last World Champion driving an F1 car with manual gearbox#F1 pic.twitter.com/Pp5zWYJIku
— Senna (@sennatheking) September 8, 2023
However, the sport is looking to become more sustainable. So they could introduce some changes in the gearbox to increase its life. This will allow the teams to run a gearbox for more races throughout the season. The FIA will bring several regulation changes to the sport which should make it more sustainable. It is not clear if the gearbox will be a part of these changes.
There is no doubt that F1 will look to keep reducing the number of gearboxes used throughout the season. Do you think the teams will be running a single gearbox for the entire season in the next few years? Post your answers in the comments section below.