Comparison between V10, V8 and V6 engines around Monza

This is the F1 Guitar version of the sound of cars from different ages of modern Formula 1 history around the Monza track:

V10:

V8:

V6:

V10 guitar around Monza. Barrichello's 2004 lap record

I am posting here one of my last videos, together with the actual F1 lap that it is based on. I recommend you to play both videos together, but watching Barrichello's one while listening to the F1 Guitar sound only. To do so, turn off the sound of Barrichello's video, and start playing it slightly before the 3rd second of my video:

Calculations for the video "Comparison of V10, V8 and 2014 V6 F1 engine sounds"

Almost three years ago, the new engine specifications for 2014 said engines would be limited to 12000 rpm and they would have 4 cylinders. Using the same calculations than those used to make my last video (shown above), I concluded that those V4 could no longer be played on guitar, and you would need a bass guitar instead: http://www.formula1guitar.blogspot.com.es/2010/12/formula-1-bass-guitar-sound-of-future.html

Now let me edit that post with the new specifications of 2014 engines. In other words, let me explain better what I did in the video above:

First, I calculated the theoretical pitch of current Formula 1 V8 engines. This way, we have the revolutions limit in 18000 rpm, which is 300 revolutions per second, that is 300 Hz. Given that a four-stroke engine cylinder has one explosion for every two revolutions, we have 150 explosions per second per cylinder. Therefore, the eight cylinders of a V8 engine make for a total of 1200 explosions per second, that is a sound of 1200 Hz, which is a musical note slightly above D6. However, the actual sound we hear on TV onboard laps has a predominant frequency of 600 Hz when the engine is on top revolutions, which is a subdivision of the 1200 Hz theoretical sound. That is the main frequency I play on my guitar videos, using appropriately tuned third and fourth strings past 22nd fret to have a 600 Hz sound (≈D5).

With the new V6 engines, to be used from 2014 on, the revolutions limit will be set to 15000 rpm, which means a reduction of the engine sound pitch by 15000/18000 = 5/6 (250 Hz instead of 300 Hz). Moreover, the engines will have 6 cylinders instead of 8, which will reduce by 6/8 the pitch of the engine sound. Altogether, we will have 5/6 x 6/8 = 5/8, so the 600 Hz sound on top revolutions will turn into a 375 Hz sound. That corresponds to a musical note slightly above F#4, around the 21st fret of a guitar for fifth string.

In the case of V10s, the revolutions limit was variable but around 18700 rpm which, following the same principles than those for V8, corresponds to 312 Hz. So the 10 cylinders will make for a pitch of 779 Hz (slightly below G5), which is the characteristic screaming of V10s. That can be played with properly tuned 2nd and 3rd strings beyond 22nd fret.

The lower frequency that I play for the three engine types is made always with the 6th string. It is similar for the three because it depends only on the revolutions of the engine, and not on the number of cylinders. This frequency coincide with the engine revolutions expressed in Hz, so, on top revolutions, it is 312 Hz for V10, 300 Hz for current V8s, and 250 Hz for 2014 V6.

Check this video to see the differences between the sound of V8s and V10s:

 

Alonso´s best victory

I heard several stories about Spaniards hesitating to watch the European GP race because of Alonso´s P11 on the grid. But then always someone said "Come on! We are talking about Fernando Alonso!" In a circuit where it is very difficult to overtake, and in a year where DRS help tends to make drivers to concentrate their overtaking efforts in a single spot of the track, Fernando delighted the grandstands by superbly overtaking all around the Valencia track. Take a look to this meaningful map with the number and name of overtaken drivers on each spot (black: on track; green: during the start; gray: during pit-stop; red: mechanical problem):

His talent, aggressive moves, concentration and always sporting attitude; his thoughts for the Spain difficulties and for the people watching the race; and then his tears in the podium make this (I think with no doubt) the best victory in Fernando Alonso´s career:

Score for the Valencia F1 Guitar lap

Presentation of the E20, the new car from Lotus F1 Team

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My happy collaboration with Lotus F1 Team.

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Celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Metallica.-2.- 30 years repeating "We´ll never stop, we´ll never quit, cause we are Metallica"

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That´s what I´m talking about!!!

Everyone who has watched every F1 race this year will remember all the driving mistakes by Sebastian Vettel. And if you can remember them, that means they are a very little few. Vettel is completing a superb championship. Button, Alonso, Webber, or Hamilton have around the same points this year than thus far last year. Vettel is the only one outstanding, and if it was just because of the car, he would be nearer Webber in the standings.

Enjoy the video I am attaching. Only a year later, Alonso would find the joker behind him would be in fact the new youngest double champion ever:

Rock and Formula 1 together

I am not the only one who connects Formula 1 and rock guitar music. Now Metallica will be giving a concert previous to the India Formula 1 Grand Prix, to make for a whole weekend of exploding sounds, unique sensations:
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/9/12531.html

Celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Metallica.-1.- 30 years doing the same thing... and doing it so good...

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Post-Monaco, pre-Canada analysis: Tyres, Hamilton´s hot spot

The new, short-lasting Pirelli tyres looked like going to benefit soft-styled drivers like Fernando Alonso or Jenson Button. However, agressive drivers like Lewis Hamilton have found a bright side in this: their ease to warm up hard compounds in tracks with low wear of tyres. This way, Hamilton has scored his best results in circuits where tyres were not as worn out as expected, like Australia, China or Spain, where Alonso, on the other hand, had difficulties to warm up his hard tyres. In contrast, Malaysia or Turkey saw Hamilton score bad results, while Alonso´s pace was great on the prime compound in both of them.

Not having an average handicap as long as tyres go, Hamilton talent in his finely developed McLaren looks like the second best candidate for the World Championship right now, so betting on him would be a good idea as rates are around 13.00. However, I think we should wait until the end of the Canadian Grand Prix because, even though Hamilton uses to do pretty good here, it is a very demanding track for tyres, AND, like in Monaco, Pirelli decided to use supersoft and soft tyres again in Canada. That is, hard compounds and low tyre-wear tracks, the two tyre issues which Hamilton can be benefited from, are not conditions to be met this weekend.

Anyway, difficult days are coming for Sebastian Vettel, who will have only Great Britain and Hungary circuits to score "easy" points before the last third of the season... I hope to dedicate a post to him after Europe (Valencia) or after Singapore, where I hope to find the best betting rates on him in the whole season.

Let´s enjoy these upcoming races!!

Post-Spain, pre-Monaco analysis: time to go for Alonso

In my optimistic opinion, Spain GP ended with some good news for Alonso despite his 5th place. First, Ferrari´s capability to improve the car looked great during Friday, although their rear wing prohibition on Saturday somehow altered the armony of the car new parts, with the resulting outcome of Sunday´s race. Second, Alonso had his most amazing start in years, going from 4th to 1st through the dirty half of the track, which reflects a very remarkable enhancement of the car in its start system and the rapid solution of all of the problems Alonso had in the start of the first races. Third and last, next race is Monaco, scenario where Ferrari´s good car traction in narrow corners can make the difference, while Red Bull´s aerodynamics won´t be benefited from the very few fast corners, and MacLarens´ hard suspensions and top speed will find no reward in the bumps and short straights of Monte Carlo. I really think an OK performance by Alonso can bring him to his first win this year.

So taken all this together, I see good betting opportunities to be done right now: Alonso as F1 World Champion (pays up to 20.00), and Alonso winning at Monaco (pays up to 8.00).

Finally, I have to say Hamilton is doing great this year, and he was faster than Vettel in Spain. Currently, betting webs pay up to 8.00 for him winning the Championship, so maybe it´s also time to bet on him. However, I must confess I´d wait to the next week, when I hope to dedicate a post to him...

Post-Australia Pre-Malaysia analysis: Button my favourite of the less-favourites

Usually, when trying to predict who the F1 World Champion will be, we base only on the last race result. This way, betting webs pay, approximately, 1.90 for Vettel and 5.00 for Hamilton or Alonso winning the championship, but as much as 15.00 for Webber and 21.00 for Button. Webber drives a Red Bull so the time will come when he starts scoring podiums and then many people will consider him a favourite. Similarly, much has been said about how Button could be benefited with the Pirelli tyres because of being a soft-styled driver. Moreover, McLaren has demostrated how rapidly they can improve the car, so both Hamilton and Button look like Championship contenders. Altogether, I think it´s time to bet on Webber or Button as Championship winners, and wait for bad days to come for Vettel, Hamilton or Alonso if we want to get better ratios betting on them.

This way, even though there will be one World Champion only, I´ll try to give clues on when it´s the best time to bet on one contender or another. Don´t bet so much money anyway!

Formula 1 Bass Guitar??? The sound of the future F1 engines

The sound of Formula 1 engines is a beautiful example of how physics can explain nature and especially human inventions. Music itself is an even more beautiful example of the same thing, and trying to make a connection between Formula 1 and music is being a total pleasure for me during this year.

When I started thinking about how to make my guitar videos, I first calculated the theoretical pitch of current Formula 1 V8 engines. This way, we have the revolutions limit in 18000 rpm, which is 300 revolutions per second, that is 300 Hz. Given that a four-stroke engine cylinder has one explosion for every two revolutions, we have 150 explosions per second per cylinder. Therefore, the eight cylinders of a V8 engine make for a total of 1200 explosions per second, that is a sound of 1200 Hz, which is a musical note slightly above D6. However, the actual sound we hear on TV onboard laps has a predominant frequency of 600 Hz when the engine is on top revolutions, which is a subdivision of the 1200 Hz theoretical sound. That is the main frequency I play on my guitar videos, using appropriately tuned third and fourth strings past 22nd fret to have a 600 Hz sound (D5).

With the new engines, to be used from 2013 on, the revolutions limit is set to 12000 rpm, which means a reduction of the engine sound pitch by 12000/18000 = 2/3. Moreover, the engines will have 4 cylinders instead of 8, which will reduce by 1/2 the pitch of the engine sound. Altogether, we will have 2/3 x 1/2 = 1/3, so the 600 Hz sound on top revolutions will be divided by 3 to turn into a 200 Hz sound. That corresponds to a musical note slightly above G3, around the 3rd fret of a guitar for third or fourth strings, so I will have to buy a bass guitar if I want to play slow corners of a Formula 1 lap in the future, or even a contrabass for the Monaco famous turn 6.

You would say: why won´t you use the sixth string, which makes a lower sound? My answer is that I need that string to reproduce a lower frequency, which depends only on the revolutions and not on the number of cylinders. This frequency coincide with the engine revolutions expressed in Hz, so for current V8 engines on top revolutions it is 300 Hz.

The impact of the new regulations on the engine sound can be better understood if we watch the next video, which compares Raikkonen´s 2008 V8 engine with Schumacher´s 2004 V10. The revolutions were limited to around 18000 rpm for both of them:



First of all, note how the low frequency I talked about is the same for both sounds, as the revolutions regime for both engines is essentially the same. Now the readily noticeable differences between the sound of both engines are in the high frequency, and result from the difference between a sound of 600 Hz and one of 760 Hz, that is, only 160 Hz. Imagine the low a Formula 1 engine will sound to our ears when going from 600 to 200 Hz in 2013. It won´t be so different from the sound of a Rally car.

Formula 1 will still be visually attractive but its sound won´t be the same, it won´t be special anymore. There are some ecological reasons for the change but I believe it´s just for the image of Formula 1 and not to mitigate a real ecological problem. Let´s make another calculation to illustrate how the fuel use in Formula 1 is just a leaf in the forest of world fuel consumption:

A Formula 1 car consumes around 200 litres of fuel during a race. Let´s say free practises and qualifying takes 400 additional litres. 600 litres multiplied by 24 cars equals 14400, and 14400 multiplied by 20 races equals a total fuel consumption of 288000 litres in a whole Formula 1 season. 288000 litres is more or less the consumption of the cars stopped in traffic lights in a country like Spain in one day.

So please let´s stop blaming Formula 1 for wasting Earth resources and let´s be thankful to it as one of the most amazing visual (and acoustic) spectacles in the world, capable of bringing unique emotions to millions of people.

Formula 1 in Canada

The Gilles Villeneuve Circuit is perhaps the only one of the Formula 1 calendar that can be driven entirely by street cars, even with its kerbs and with just some understandable limitations. I felt like I was there with my guitar earlier this year, but recently I actually was there in a sunny and warm, perfect November day. There was almost nobody in the circuit, it was all for me and that made it even more special. I really think how special it is to drive in a Formula 1 circuit. Many football lovers would fulfil a dream if playing football in the grass of Bernabeu or Old Trafford Stadiums. That´s exactly how I feel in Formula 1 circuits. Driving and vibrating over the kerbs, approaching the Wall of Champions, caring about the grip on the chicanes, or wondering how Formula 1 cars can go through those narrow curves five times faster than me, gave me a new grade in the understanding of this sport.

It was a complete Formula 1 week, as I was also delighted to meet the guys of F1 Boutique Canada in old Montreal (who told me about the huge transformation of the city on the week of the Grand Prix), and not so delighted to watch the end of the Championship in Abu Dhabi because of the Fernando Alonso defeat. Very nice and remarkable Formula 1 season anyway, especially for me.

Valencia Street Circuit guitar lap (by car it´s not possible)

It is curious how a guitar is a better way to get close to the feelings of a Formula 1 driver than a real car. At least this is the case in the Valencia Street Circuit. I could imitate the sound of the entire Alonso lap with my guitar, but I couldn´t drive my car througout the circuit. The all-chicane character of the first two sectors is readily obvious even if you just listen to the sound of the guitar, but when driving your car there you find all the chicanes are cut to traffic for one reason or another, so you can drive only on the long straights. The funny third sector, which ends in the unique, musical braking of the last turn where my picture on the left is, is completely closed all year long, as it is the famous bridge. Perhaps an effort could be made to make the circuit more accesible and enjoyable to the thousands of Formula 1 fans that would be fond of visiting it. Anyway, reasons should be not to. The Valencia port is a busy area even without race lovers.

Despite all I just said, you can guess I absolutely loved being in the Valencia circuit, checking the tire rubber stuck to the track, getting my car to boxes, placing it in the Pole Position, or driving following the exact line used by the Formula 1 drivers. Feelings so nicely accompained by many others in one of my favourite cities.

Spanish touch of colour

  
On the occasion of the victory of Spain in the Eurocup, on August 11, 2008 I wrote the following text, entitled "The Spanish touch":

I once heard that the Spanish football team could never win anything because it does not have a definite style, a way of playing which Spanish players feel identified with since childhood, and to be used instinctively as a resource when they need to win. And other national teams do. Italy for example play to defend and take advantage of the few chances they have. Germany base their game upon physical strength, to get soon to the opposite area. England make an aggressive football, regardless of wearing down the opponent with kicks. But Spain, Spain don´t know what to play... It may be that to call something "style of play” it needs to be supported by a title, and therefore the style of Spain has not been considered as such.

But since the moment I started paying attention to this kind of things, that is back in the 1994 World Cup, I remember Spain playing always the same football: touching and touching the ball until get the rival bored, opening the game to the sides, making passes in all directions, searching for open areas all around the field, and getting to the opposite goal continuously. Unfortunately, however, the scoring effectiveness has never been a color of the Spanish flag, but who can forget the quarterfinal match against Italy in 1994, or that game against England at the Eurocup 96, or the damn goalless draw against Korea in 2002. In all these games you could not see the Spanish goalkeeper. It was a continuous attack of Spain without being able to score. Even my grandmother, whose sensor ability enabled her to assess only very simple things, wondered "why are we seeing only one goal?"

I believe all this defines a style of play, a Spanish style based on the touch, which has accompanied Spaniards in all those games that as much as they don´t like are impossible for them to forget. Because no one forgets those serious defensive errors, or those penalties shot so afraid to lose (or to win), or the inability to react in crisis moments because of believing that playing so well they would never live those moments.

However, Spain's matches at the Euro 2008 have been great, we are privileged to have seen those. But the game style has not changed, Spain don´t play better now, but they have shot better, and especially have defended better. They defended amazingly, the rival teams created so little occasions, and for the few of those, there was the best goalkeeper in the world. I would like to check how many national teams or how many clubs, throughout the history of football, have kept their goal unbeaten in quarters, semis and final of any professional competition. With this defense and goalkeeper, it would have been enough the only goal of Spain against Italy in 1994, or the Villa's penalty scored against France in 2006. The beauty of the Spanish touching game would have been imposed on those figures in the history of football as Roberto Baggio or Zidane, in the same way that it has been imposed in this Eurocup.

Let the style of touching, the Spanish style, the Spanish touch, decorate always our victories,

Mario


The same way as the World Cup victory completes the wins of Spain, I will complete the previous writing with the following:

During the early summer 2010, the streets of Spain have been decorated with Spanish flags in numerous balconies and windows. A decoration that our eyes could not miss everywhere we went, not only because of the striking the flag is, and its brightness amplified by the intense luminosity of these days, but because of the strong caution that for years has been taken when bringing up flags of Spain. Perhaps that is why many of those flags kept the folds of years in a small drawer, or of being purchased in neighborhood stores in the last minute.

But what is the reason for all this obsession with red and yellow, this Spanish touch of colour? Well, simply that the Spanish National Team played a World Cup in South Africa, and, furthermore, that they started as a favourite. In fact, Spain has always started as a favourite, perhaps because we forget that to win it is not enough to be better or having more score chances, but you have to score more goals. But this time we arrived from winning the Eurocup with a football of precision in all lines. The celebration of that victory also showed Spaniards how beautiful their flag is when they wave it together, and that is why, during this World Cup, that feeling has been from the beginning imposed on other old resentments.

Since in general I don´t like to do what everyone does, or when everyone does it, my way of joining this like for Spain has been the video you have next, co-starring my friends. Let me mention I admire their professionalism and how they don´t split their sides laughing:



As for the game of Spain during the World Cup, the Spanish touch that dazzled the world during the Eurocup has remained, thanks mainly to two football geniuses like Xavi or Iniesta. What these men do in the field is to be put on intelligence tests. Despite this, the brilliant game of Spain in the Eurocup may have been somewhat distorted in favour of other aspects of the game. The most important of these has been the strengthening of defense, with Xabi Alonso and Busquets as defensive midfielders rather than a solitary Senna. This, together with the plethoric Casillas, Piqué, Puyol, Capdevila and Sergio Ramos, has resulted in Spain becoming the first team in World Cup history to keep their goal unbeaten in the knockout stage.

In attack, or perhaps better said in scoring efficiency, Spain have lowered their level compared to that in the Eurocup. Torres was not right, and Iniesta seemed to be afraid to shoot. Even though, he had three shots and scored two historic goals. The difference with other World Cups, again, is the defense, without which Spain would have conceded a goal that would have let him out early.

And that was how Spain won this World Cup. The most important goals came very late and after very nervous moments, which made them the most celebrated goals of my life. When Iniesta scored in the final I started to scream at the top of my lungs until I was out of breath. Then I took air again and kept screaming. After several seconds, it came more clearly to my mind what that goal meant, and I screamed even louder. When I stopped screaming and stood up to hug my family, I realized I was crying. These screams and tears were repeated after the end of the game and with the image of Casillas raising the World Cup. Only once before I had cried with sporting events: with Fernando Alonso in the 2007 season.

With the World Cup victory, Spain is even more fashionable. Even the Empire State Building was lit with the colours of the Spain flag. Players like Puyol, Xavi or Iniesta suddenly equalize the record of Zidane of having won all major competitions possible. The Spanish touch fascinates the world and teaches it to play football. And Spain is, in short, happier, more Spain,

Mario

Press pressure, Alonso not alone

Fernando Alonso won the German race after being the quickest of the weekend and with no controversial decisions from the referees. Felipe Massa let him past in a very obvious way, but that was team decisions. Alonso just raced for the most points, like Raikkonen in Brazil 2007, Hamilton in Germany 2008, or the very Massa in China 2008. But the truth is that Massa wasn´t ever told to let Alonso past, so there were no team orders, what makes the fine for Ferrari pointless. If team orders are allowed when they are subtle but not when they are obvious, then tell me what kind of a rule is that. Because there are team orders almost every weekend, I think we all know. That is why it is not understandable why the English reporters, and also some German who didn´t look like caring about Vettel being in the podium, played the lead in the press conference of the following video. And when a reporter plays the lead in something, that´s because he is not doing his job correctly. Check out Alonso´s face, his broken voice when saying “no”, the empty expression of Massa, and the appropriate gesture of Vettel:



After scenes like this, my will to support Alonso whatever happens gets reinforced. He had to deal with all this after being the fastest driver of the weekend, after caring not to make his team look ridiculous by taking care in his previous opportunities to overtake Massa, and after being overtaken in the start by Massa who went out of the first turn and accelerated outside the track, a thing which is not allowed even though nobody seems to care about it.

I am very happy about the Alonso win, and about his second place in Hungary. Alonso is on the top of the races again and the more people are bothered with this, the stronger my support will be.

Fernando Alonso Turkey 2010 lap on slide guitar

The most special feature of this circuit, the famous turn 8, was also a challenge for me but not for its risk, difficulty or G-force, but for how to make it sound real, what was not easy due to the need for the annoying alternate picking (that I use, as you may know, in long runs without gear changing or revolutions leaps in order not to lose strings vibration). Anyway I think it turned out good. I prefer alternate picking better than some gadgets like E-bow, because I want to keep the guitar playing with as less artifacts as possible. Note also, if you can sharpen your ears, the rather short 7th gear to gain acceleration in the medium straights of the first 2 sectors, with the penalty of reaching the revolutions limit in the long straight of the 3rd sector. Also, enjoy the kerb "produced" ragged sound, which I have been doing in former videos, but that I´ll try to improve further in future videos.