Vision - F1

[beats]

Very cool video done with the help of Nico Hulkenberg on how quickly and where F1 drivers focus going around a track. Pretty amazing how quickly he can take information in, and surprising how long he stays focused on the apex. Would be even better to see this used in a race or at least with other cars on the track...

[nyfg56]

Awesome!

[Kong Sheng Han]

I've been taught to look ahead, not at the apex.

[Richbot]

IMO, only in linked cornering sequences does it become critical to look through the corner to the next and ignore where you are in favor of where you're going, and those situations are relatively rare on road courses

Looking ahead is important but it's not the kind of looking ahead and plotting the course for 3-4 corners in advance that you need for autocross or performance rally for a good lap. For a good lap you need to get the brake zone mostly right and then get the car's attitude right from apex to track-out in each corner. You don't need to look very far ahead for that and it can be counterproductive due to eye/hand dominance. That said looking ahead is absolutely critical to surviving close quarters wheel to wheel without being the guy who takes the whole knot of cars out. The guys who can run at the front in a competitive field don't need to "look" at the track at all to turn the lap, and focus instead on what's going on 2-3 cars ahead of them to make sure they aren't collected in somebody else's wreck or miss a passing opportunity

So yeah, look ahead on road courses, but not necessarily because it's faster; it's safer

Go safe to go fast

[admranger]

I've found that students go much faster and are much smoother by looking ahead.

Remember that Hulkenburg can stare at an apex b/c it only takes him 0.009 seconds to react and acquire his next target. Mere mortals like us aren't able to do that (we take 0.4 secs to react) so we need to move our eyes further up the road.

Keep your eyes in motion. Drive smooth. Drive fast.

[Richbot]

And I've found that most track day instructors are seconds off the pace when they first jump into a racecar it's that mere mortal effect you mention, but not really, it can be taught. But it has to be taught by the clock IMO. I was just replying to point out that what works for most track day people is not necessarily what works in a racecar driven to its potential

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Richbot

And I've found that most track day instructors are seconds off the pace when they first jump into a racecar it's that mere mortal effect you mention, but not really, it can be taught. But it has to be taught by the clock IMO. I was just replying to point out that what works for most track day people is not necessarily what works in a racecar driven to its potential

Understood (didn't mean for my post to look critical of yours). I raced for a decade. BTDT. I remember taking the club racing school and feeling like a novice student again. Eventually, it became a subconscious activity. Now it takes me a while to get back in the groove again.

[Richbot]

Indeedydoo been rusty my whole life, lol

I think the bouncing purple dot in that vid is a little deceiving too because it's telling you where he's looking but often apex and track out are in the same place if you follow line of sight so it's like watching a reverse shaky-cam/potato-cam version of what he's really following with his eyeballs

[Richbot]

Also it's probably extra shaky because Perez has been kicking his ass

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Also it's probably extra shaky because Perez has been kicking his ass

Well played!

[M3 Number 86]

Don't you look at the apex but by the time you're turning in already looking ahead as that should already help you drive through the apex.

[Sleeper519]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Indeedydoo been rusty my whole life, lol

I think the bouncing purple dot in that vid is a little deceiving too because it's telling you where he's looking but often apex and track out are in the same place if you follow line of sight so it's like watching a reverse shaky-cam/potato-cam version of what he's really following with his eyeballs

Exactly. The purple dot is only 2-dimensional and shows eye direction only, not necessarily his point of focus. The apex and track out (and beyond) are often aligned as you said. If you watch the video again you can see the dot scanning and moving point-to-point, back and forth (turn in--apex--turn in--apex--track out--apex--trackout--next brake point--etc) over and over. He's not just fixated on the apex for several seconds then the next apex for a few more, he's scanning.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Sleeper519

Exactly. The purple dot is only 2-dimensional and shows eye direction only, not necessarily his point of focus. The apex and track out (and beyond) are often aligned as you said. If you watch the video again you can see the dot scanning and moving point-to-point, back and forth (turn in--apex--turn in--apex--track out--apex--trackout--next brake point--etc) over and over. He's not just fixated on the apex for several seconds then the next apex for a few more, he's scanning.

Yep. His eyes sweep from braking start point (and braking end point!) to turn in to apex to track out. In there somewhere is throttle application too.

I always tell students to stop admiring their work and get their eyes down the road!

This is all assuming I have taken my meds.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by admranger

I've found that students go much faster and are much smoother by looking ahead.

Remember that Hulkenburg can stare at an apex b/c it only takes him 0.009 seconds to react and acquire his next target. Mere mortals like us aren't able to do that (we take 0.4 secs to react) so we need to move our eyes further up the road.

Keep your eyes in motion. Drive smooth. Drive fast.

I agree. The video is certainly interesting, but the guy is a lifelong professional. His more advanced techniques do not really translate well for us casuals.

[bigjae1976]

I kind of got the feeling it was focused more on awareness than just looking at the apex.

I really start with trying to relax vs looking ahead. You can look ahead but if you're not relaxed then your field of view narrows and you miss you a lot of good information like flags that come out at the last second.

I know I drive much better relaxed. I feel like I'm working with the car vs reacting to it. I look around a lot more and I feel more confident.

[Richbot]

I sing vaudeville show tunes the whole time

Lots of disney stuff lately too

true story

[MSteve5036]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I sing vaudeville show tunes the whole time

Lots of disney stuff lately too

true story

haha...Stig?

[1MOREMOD]

Looking further down field makes speed seem much lesser and also puts tail waggles into proper perspective.