Kimi vs. Fisichella (driving styles)

[RH1300S]

I don't think MS was the first to do this by a long way, other drivers have done so in the past (notably rally drivers, but also other types of racing including F1).

Two things - definately true for when exhausts exited into diffusers and maybe still applies today - the high energy exhaust gasses helped the activate the diffuser (maybe rear wing today?) and create downforce and stability, so to slow a little for a fast corner (Pouhon for example) - riding the brake with the left foot controls speed while still using an open throttle and keeps the car stable, while a quick lift causes instability.

Also, the brake and throttle are rarely fully on together, the drivers blend braking and throttle together - done well this can nudge the car right to the edge of the friction circle. MS seems to be one of the best at doing this, using weight transfer when braking to rotate the car and the throttle to create stability and smoothness so that he is not jumping from brake to throttle. It's all about trading braking force to corner force, then to acceleration - keeping all phases of a corner over-lapping.

I have driven like this (from time to time) ever since I had a car - I never worked out why, it seemed natural because I rode (still do) motorbikes and used to overlap brake & throttle deep into a corner - so I just did the same in cars - MS was definately not first - I doubt I was either

[Guest]

IMO the reason is most likely to be related to avoiding rear wheel lock up (with the result that the car changes ends..) - it used to be called heel & toeing - clearly there may be other benefits, but the very last thing the driver (any driver) wants is to lock the back wheels before the front as a skidding wheel has less traction than a rolling one (that's why they make rear brakes smaller than front ones and why the brake balance is typicaly towards the front of the car in an F1 vehicle).

[DaveKillens]

From what I read in the article that described the process, it is about using the stability of acceleration. When the gas is depressed, the torque applied by the drivetrain and rear tires adds stability. Usually, some tough braking areas can make the car very unstable. Adding gas in this scenario adds an element of stability.
It's not about using the traction circle, the use of the accelerator and brakes can seem to be going towards this goal, but it's just about adding some gas to keep the car from wandering or darting under hard deceleration.

[DaveKillens]

DaveKillens wrote: I use this very same technique myself in sim racing

On wich simulation do you use this and in wich corners?

Mep, I use this technique on EA's F1 2002 and NASCAR Season 2003. Basically, wherever I have a difficult braking section prone to instability, and in a game I have two separate axis for the pedals/ brakes. Of course, the vehicle physics have to have the appropriate physics to make this workeable. GP4 doesn't have separate axis ....

[sknguy-]

When a driver uses this technique is there not a tendancy to lock the brakes. Whether it's as a result of the technique, or perhaps the result of disorienting the person's judgement when simply braking. I've noticed that both Räikkönen and Schumacher do have a tendency to lock their brakes more than other drivers.

[Guest]

Having thought about it a bit more several of the drivers were clearly understeering - there was a Team radio spot we heard from massa asking for more front wing at the pit stop - I guess applying power to the rear wheels might also push the car towards oversteer at least in part cancelling some of the understeer... just a guess though.

[RH1300S]

Having thought about it a bit more several of the drivers were clearly understeering - there was a Team radio spot we heard from massa asking for more front wing at the pit stop - I guess applying power to the rear wheels might also push the car towards oversteer at least in part cancelling some of the understeer... just a guess though.

That would depend a lot on the diff settings

[Guest]

Monstrobolaxa: True but going into or exiting a corner are the 2 only moments(that I can think of atleast) when you want to apply both the brake and the throttle at the same time. Leftfoot braking is also only possible when theres no clutchpedal which should make Schumacher one of the first in F1. Im not a racedriver my self but I think leftfootbraking allows for improved trailbraking.

I think gokarts have always been braked by the leftfoot so the concept has been around for some time.

Cheers
- Fx -

[Cyco]

Leftfoot braking is also only possible when theres no clutchpedal

You can left foot brake ANY car, I do it any time I am drrving enthusiastically.

It has three places of main use: 1) Trail braking after downshifting; 2) To settle the car by getting it to squat on the suspension over a rise and 3) To sharpen turn in on a high speed corner.

[RH1300S]

Leftfoot braking is also only possible when theres no clutchpedal

You can left foot brake ANY car, I do it any time I am drrving enthusiastically.

It has three places of main use: 1) Trail braking after downshifting; 2) To settle the car by getting it to squat on the suspension over a rise and 3) To sharpen turn in on a high speed corner.

Not strictly accurate - in my Alpine you can only LFB if you move your foot around the steering column (nearly impossible in the tiny footwell). But, more pertinent to F1 - older F1 cars with three pedals often had the steering column between the pedals, so it would not have been possible.

[Guest]

I was under the impression that the semi-automatic gearboxes that appeared in the early -90 allowed for left foot braking when the clutchpedal was removed.

Turn in at highspeed corners ? Why not slow corners ? At highspeed you are aided by the cars aerodynamics. If you brake to improve turn in then you are trailbraking arent you

I havent seen a racecardriver use anything else but the traditional style(heel toe ?) when driving a car that has a clutch(manual gearbox with clutch not semi or auto) that is the left foot operates the clutchpedal and the right foot operates both the brake and the throttle.

Now that Im thinking about it using your left foot to brake seems really stupid. If you use your left fooot to brake in a car with a manual gearbox. That means you cant brake and downshift at the same time.

Of course you can use the left foot to brake in almost any car but the goal is to be as fast as possible.

/ Fx

[manchild]

Some drivers in hill climb competitions I’ve talked with are holding their left foot on the brake (not pressing it) when they are entering dangerous corners in order to brake asap if danger occurs. I’m talking about cars with manual gearbox and clutch.

Obviously, this can’t be used at any turn but it is helpful at those which have to be taken without shifting or flat-out. Same goes for situations where exit from the turn isn’t visible and driver can’t tell whether he’ll stumble on stalled or crashed car of previous competitor, fallen tree or spectators.

[Guest]

I really dont know alot about hillclimbing but Im sure driving technique varies between diffrent types of racing. I can imagine that something that works for a GP2 or FIA GT car doesnt do the trick for a rally car.

- Fx -

[Cyco]

Why left foot brake a high speed corner and not a low speed one? The low speed one will generally require a down shift and the means most of the braking will need to be done with the right foot. As to how it helps, in any car without downforce elements the tap of the brakes will put more weight on the front wheels giving more grip and therefor a later turn in point if the corner cannot be taken flat.

I havent seen a racecardriver use anything else but the traditional style(heel toe ?) when driving a car that has a clutch(manual gearbox with clutch not semi or auto) that is the left foot operates the clutchpedal and the right foot operates both the brake and the throttle.

Get hold of some in footwell footage from WRC or any touring car that still has 3 pedals and you will see it/

[RH1300S]

Now that Im thinking about it using your left foot to brake seems really stupid. If you use your left fooot to brake in a car with a manual gearbox. That means you cant brake and downshift at the same time.

Of course you can use the left foot to brake in almost any car but the goal is to be as fast as possible.

/ Fx

lfb helps use the car's tyres fully as you trail brake more efficiently and get a good transition from braking back to throttle.

You can lfb in a three pedal car - you don't need a clutch to change gear. The clutch just makes life easier. I often drive without the clutch. Some gearboxes are easier clutchless than others, but all can be shifted without the clutch.

PS try it out with care