In the modern, ultra-high tech world of Formula 1, a common debate revolves around how significantly driver input counts for success. Adrian Newey offered an insight.<\/p>\n
A legend of Formula 1 car design, Newey believes that a common pitfall across the sport is that too much focus is placed on the data, and not enough on listening to the drivers for feedback. Newey spoke of how drivers are reactive to the car, often adapting to issues without realising, so dragging the feedback out of them is key for improvement.<\/p>\n
Adrian Newey suggests F1 drivers more important than ever<\/p>\n
Newey has contributed to a total of 26 world championship wins across his legendary F1 career. Having designed title-winning cars for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, Newey will look to add Aston Martin to that collection, having arrived in March as managing technical partner and a team shareholder.<\/p>\n
Newey started his F1 career with the March squad in the late 1980s, and since then, Formula 1 has evolved into a data-driven sport. But, despite all that, Newey continues to insist that what hasn\u2019t changed, is that the racing driver strapped into the car remains the best tool for improvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople in the industry, I think, spend too long looking at the data, not long enough listening to what the driver is saying,\u201d said Newey on the James Allen on F1 podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the driver is the most sensitive sensor in the car. And one of the problems, certainly with the sensors on the car is that very often, it will tell you what the car\u2019s doing, but not why it\u2019s doing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe driver is the biggest clue, because drivers are very intuitive beasts. They will automatically adjust how they use the car to suit its limitations, and very often don\u2019t even know they\u2019ve done that. So they can\u2019t report how they change their driving style. You have to effectively interrogate them to try and drag that out of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newey doubled down on that stance as part of an in-house Aston Martin interview.<\/p>\n
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