When shifting an F1 do you...

No

Hold the gas in the same position.

Most of the times I down-shift myself. Those rev-matching down-shifts sound too good...

 

Probably a few opinions on the 2nd item, but, just keep the pedal at the same position and the cars computer will take care of the proper engine revs.

On the 2nd. I personally (at a stop light) pull the car into neutral, just condidering there is no pressure exerted on the pressure plate...etc. May make no difference, but, to-me, if you've not gotten pressure in the system to "hold" the clutch in, in-theory you would think better somehow. (Pressure plate, T/O bearing..etc). When coming to a regular stop-sign I just let the car downshift most of the times. I will say though that for either, I never coast but wait for a full stop before selecting neutral if needed.

 

Shifting to neutral while coasting may save the gearbox some shifting but likely has little affect on clutch life. OTOH, Ferrari has quite a bit of experience designing and building gearboxes to shift and it's not clear the saved shifts would have a material affect on gearbox life either. Another consideration I've experienced often when coasting or resting in neutral is that you can't accelerate instantly if needed (e.g., approach of emergency vehicle, other driver misconduct, etc.). Therefore, for safety I generally leave the F1 in gear at all times.

Incidentally, stopped in gear or in neutral is exactly the same for the F1 TO bearing. Ferrari F1 holds the pressure plate out of engagement regardless so there's no advantage to standing still in neutral. As noted above, there is a disadvantage to being stopped in neutral since you must remember to press the break and shift before you can get the car moving in an emergency.

 

As for me:

Upshifting... hold the gas right where it is. The car will do all the work.

Downshifting... depends on what you're doing (slowing or about to accelerate). About to accelerate, hit the left paddle for one gear, double tap the left paddle for a 2-gear drop and punch it. If you're slowing to stop, I just keep downshifting with the paddle all the way to 2nd gear. Then I'll slow and let the car decide when to shift into 1st.

While some guys pull both paddles and go into N, I usually never do.

 

When I have a sensible passenger (wife), or a passenger not used to the jerky upshifts from the F1, I lift the gas then upshift then back on the gas as it were a manual transmission. This process guarantees very smooth upshifts.

Downshifts are smooth as long as you do them coming from low RPM in the higher gear (anything under 3,000 rpm).

I go to neutral if I feel the car is going to spin, it is the equivalent to both feet in with a manual transmission. This prevents the car going backward while in gear (really bad), and also prevents stalling.

If you're going to be standing still for a while, it is better to go to neutral. When the car is in gear at a stop, the clutch is fully depressed heating up the hydraulic fluid and causing unnecessary wear on the pressure plate.

If you treat your F1 as a manual transmission, it will last longer on the wear components.

 

I think you'll find the clutch is fully depressed when the car is stopped whether in gear or neutral. That is, status of hydraulic fluid, pressure plate, throwout bearing, etc., are identical regardless.

 

Upshifting. I don't "blip" the throttle. I just hold the pedal and hit the paddles.

Downshifting: I downshift to 2nd and let the car take me to 1st and then take it into neutral at a stop light to preserve the clutch.

 

I just bought a 1999 360 F1 a few months ago. Previous owner told me to let off the gas when shifting. Tried that a few times and it works well for all gears other than first. First gear runs up really fast and if you are making a turn and accelerating, it can be problematic to do all that. One time I did that and the car jerked pretty bad as I was trying to do that in first gear making a tight turn. I might have not fully hit the paddle.

I talked to my local F-shop and he told me I will figure it out over time, as one can shift faster that way. Evidently if you keep the gas pedal in the same position, it takes some time for the computer to do everything. I do find I can shift faster letting off the gas pedal a bit.

Though, in first gear, I keep the gas pedal in the same position. 2nd and up are no problem.

Admittedly, I am a total newbie and need to learn more about the car. But, that one episode I had was not good. 1st gear runs up really quick and if you let off the gas and don't fully hit the paddle, it can be an issue. My local shop also bled the F1 fluid, which he said may have been the problem. Haven't had any issues, but I don't fool around with 1st gear anymore either. I let the computer do the work.

 

Ferrari F1 throw-out bearings are constant contact types, so putting the car in neutral does not decrease wear on the throw-out bearing as it does on most cars.

During gentle or normal driving, I agree with Rad, a slight let-up on the accelerator pedal smooths the shifts, especially when the transmission is cold. Longer for the lower gears, not much at all for the higher gears. Much shorter pause when warm. If the shifts are not as smoooth as a manual transmission car, you are doing it wrong, even if the system does automatically retard the throttle for you on upshifts.

I always put the car in neutral when stopped, even though this does not save on throw-out bearing wear. If you sit in gear at a light long enough, the F1 system will put it in neutral for you. The time varies from model to model, and is even shorter if your foot is not on the brake.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I think it's a bad idea to go into neutral unless you are absolutely stationary, since I believe you can't go back into gear again until you are almost stopped (unlike a manual gearbox). In stop & go traffic you can find yourself unable to get going again until you hit the brake, confusing the traffic behind you and risking a collision.

Also note that if you coast in neutral you will burn gas, if you coast in gear you probably won't.

 

At low speeds the F1 goes from neutral to 1st only if you press the brake pedal. At higher speeds it readily selects the appropriate gear without pressing the brake pedal.

At least this is how it works on the 599.

 

In my 2003 360 spider, its not required to have your foot on the brake to select and engage a new gear from neutral, if you're moving. Try it, it's smooth and works fine.

 

360 - No (fly by wire)
355 - Yes (not fly by wire)

 

Like F430GT,If my wife is in the car I let off the gas for smooth shifts or else she is not getting in the car again.The Scuderia is very funky,It has to be taken out of automatic each time you start the car.Unlike my other 430 which stayed in F1 mode until you put it in Automatic, When I forget to do so I usually panic to turn off Automatic,Alone I drive without letting off on the gas in F1 mode.

PS
Does anyone know why the Scuderia has to been taken out of Automatic after each start?

 

I think your dealer can change this in about 30 seconds by plugging in the SD3 and changing the setting. Maybe RifleDriver will chime in to confirm this.

 

Nick- If you are in neutral and still rolling and hit the upshift paddle, the F1 shifter will, in a very short period of time, select the highest gear needed for forward progress without lugging. If you hit the downshift paddle instead, it will give you one gear lower for better acceleration. There is virtually no delay in getting a forward gear from neutral if you need one. Try both techniques.

Driving an F1 shifter is a new skill set. Have fun learning. On the latest F1 shifters, like those in the 599 HGTE, if you hold down the downshift lever, the car downshifts continuously until the lowest gear possible without exceeding the redline is selected. That makes for some glorious noises.

Taz
Terry phillips

 

Derek
Thanks I'm on that on my next service

Jeff