Wait, there are drivers in F1 that cannot left foot brake well? I thought that was a skill necessary to even become an SCCA instructor and a GIVEN at higher levels of racing.

 

Left-foot braking doesn't work very well if you need to work a clutch during shifts.

 

Rally drivers seem to do O.K. with it

 

My understanding is that WRC gearboxes don't require the driver to use a clutch.

 

they use a clutch in modern F1 cars??
I thought they paddle shifted, and had auto clutches

 

yes, I believe all WRC have standardized their cars, to have clutch as a left paddle off the steering wheel.. pull the engage, and release the paddle to let out the clutch..

up the gears with lupper right hand paddle shifter and gear down with lower right paddle shifter..

 

The older guys predate that and some have had trouble with the switch.

 

Speed Bump that is exactly my point...MS brought Ferrari 3 wins in 1996 in a car that was not the best car - it was a good car but not the best.

Honda is a good car but it isn't the best right now...can JB delivery a victory in that car?

Marco - my comment about San Marino was not about MS - it was all about FA being able to hold off a faster car and get a win in a slower car...

 

As a certified instructor with BMW CCA let me just say left foot braking is one method of driving fast for sure, but to think it is the only way to drive fast is an oversight.

I do not left foot brake for a number of reasons, as I have not replaced my OEM seats with a race bucket I cannot use a 5 or 6-point harness. I can't be left foot braking with my setup because I need that left foot planted on the dead pedal to help me stay in my driving position. It is easier for me to use just my right foot on both the gas and the brake pedal at the same time than it is for me to make the change over to using the left foot. If you think about it, this foot is already adapted to using both the brake and the gas for heel toe downshifts, so I just sort of alter the method.

As an example, as I come into the off-camber Turn 9 at The Glen I'm running right up to red in 3rd, then standing on the brakes and making my turn-in. As the car starts the transition through that cornerand I go from brake to throttle my right foot is on both pedals. I can add rotation by pushing with my toe on the brake and I can stop rotation by pushing with my heel on the gas, all while pushing with my left foot so my ass stays set back into the seat. As I get more and more onto the gas as I approach the apx my foot naturally comes off the brake completely.

Now I ain't no MS, but ask John or Eric as they have been around the track with me and I'm not what you would call slow...

 

Oh, I totally agree that it isn't the only way to go fast, I just assumed that at the level of F1 it would be a given that the driver was highly skilled in all (what I would consider) basic driving techniques.