F1 shifting? Let off or not?

Don't let off and yes put in in neutral at a stop light, another thing I do is select neutral if I am coasting a long way to a imminent stop so the car doesn't do unnecessary downshifting, also do not select first gear while slowing down, let the transmission shifts to first gear when it is ready.
Basically drive it the same way you will drive a car with a clutch BUT do not lift while up shifting (that is the only difference)


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Depending on your mood and how you want the car to respond you will adjust your driving technique. If you are popping down the road for a paper or out for a quiet evening meal when you are after sophistication you most certainly SHOULD lift off the throttle to achieve a wonderfully smooth gear change at normal revs - this throttle matching you will need to learn just as in a manual car and is taught by Ferrari as the way to drive an F1. Not in the owners manual as it was felt too complicated - rubbish. If you are on it and after the fastest spine tingling changes then don't lift.
For those who say don't lift, try it, learn it and enjoy the extra comfort when you want.

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I never let off the gas when I shift and most of the times I put the car in neutral at red lights.

 

When I'm out having fun in the back roads, definitely no lift. But with a passenger out for a gentle ride - or down the road to pick up a paper - it's not so much a 'lift' as it is a feathering or slight reduction in acceleration. Tough to describe, but it softens the shift and eliminates the head bob that annoys passengers so much.

Also, when coasting towards a stop light, I go to neutral and coast. If the light changes, you can always flip the 'down' paddle to get the right gear.

 

You might want to look for the answers from similar questions from other previous new owners over the years (eg http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/444313-neutral-vs-1st-gear-red-light.html) and the youtube video (from a dealer in Florida as I recall) on how to drive F1 - there are few new questions !

 

Neutral at lights for sure.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0mIWy_0hE0

 

In an F1 car and stopped at a light, what is the difference between being in neutral and being in 1st?

 

Nothing. It is a constant contact throwout bearing so the clutch is pressed when your stopped, no matter if in N or in 1st. That it should be in N at a light is an internet legend that gets consistently propagated.

The manual says do not let off when shifting. My experience is that letting off the throttle tends to make for a worse shifts. A perfectly smooth shift happens at or near neutral throttle. Shifting when accelerating gives a little snap (proportional to amount of acceleration).

People spend a lot of time fretting over clutch wear as well. That is why they advocate not downshifting when coming to a stop. Personally, I like the sound so I downshift. The most clutch wear happens on starting out. I give it very easy throttle then lift slightly causing the clutch to fully engage. I can get full engagement in less than a car's length. After that, anything goes. From my experience, the difference in clutch wear isn't significant; then again I don't care if I get an extra 500 miles out of a clutch.

Just drive it and enjoy.

 

John- In this case the constant contact bearing has nothing to do with being in neutral and wear on the bearing. When an F1 Ferrari is stopped in neutral or in gear or in neutral and rolling, the clutch is always open, unlike a 3 pedal car. In a three pedal car, when your are in neutral and your foot is off the clutch, the clutch is closed. Never in an F1 Ferrari in neutral, which is ready to select a gear at any time. Also a safety feature to prevent the case of the system fouling up and trying to select a gear while the clutch was closed.

Light wear on the throw-out bearing occurs constantly when a gear is engaged because it is a constant contact bearing, but that has nothing to do with wear while in neutral.

When an F1 car is cold and in Normal for 360s and Sport for F430s and when using the lower gears, a slight lift on upshifts can smooth out shifts. When warm and accelerating briskly or in the higher gears, not necessary.

Also, if you are stopped and have neutral selected, make sure you have the brake pedal depressed or she will beep a warning at you. Until you press the brake pedal again after that warning, she will not go into gear, either. That can be embarrassing.

When coasting in neutral and traffic starts moving hitting either the upshift or downshift lever will get you the same gear. That gear will always be too high, so use your downshift paddle again and quickly downshift once more to get a usable gear.

Takes a while to learn to be smooth in an F1 Ferrari.

 

I don't lift when shifting. It confuses the computer because it thinks you're attempting to slow down.

2x... neutral at eminent stops and red lights and foot on brake.

 

Pull both paddles at anytime for neutral, double pull on the down paddle to engage the correct gear for the speed you are doing.


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She is an Italian beauty. Keep your gas pedal buried when Up shifting, she likes to have her "hair" pulled (smile). Neutral at stoplight. FYI, inactivity at the stoplight the car will automatically disengage 1st gear and put the car into Neutral.

 

I always lift off while cruising or city driving just so I don't feel the jerkiness.

 

Yup, smooths out the shifts.

 

As above, you can achieve sublimely smooth shifts with a slight lift. It does take practice though.
But if you are "on it", leave it floored.

 

excellent write up....thank you. however i find that hitting the upshift lever, while coasting in neutral will get the gear to the appropriate usable gear for that speed....not to the highest gear....and my car is an old 2004 model...i bet the newer ones are even more intelligent.

 

Definitely not the case on my '05, and I've done it many times....

 

perfect..

 

Even in something as torquey as a 575M, the gear you get from neutral with either paddle is the highest gear in which she will run smoothly, and that is too high a gear for acceleration without lugging her.

 

As I shift I try to keep the gas constant (I dont let off or apply much more gas), shift, once in the higher gear I begin to press on the gas pedal. I feel no jerkiness when I shift this way.

At a red light I put the car in N. If I am coming to a red-light I put the car in N and brake to a stop, brake pads are cheaper to replace than the clutch .

 

What TAZ wrote

 

+1