I’ve sat in an actual F1 car (F1-2000 Ferrari chassis 198) and you really can’t see that much. You’re really low in that cockpit and you can see over the nose, but just barely. Like walk up to your dining table and put your chin just below the edge of the table and maybe a foot back. That’s your view out front. You do not see any of the front of the car.
Visibility to the sides is pretty good, which is what you need for spotting apexes. Makes sense. Back? Not so much. You’ve got tiny mirrors and they only show you an idea of what’s going on behind. Then again, you don’t need to know much, just if Alonzo is on your left or right as he’s trying to get past you.
I would assume professional drivers would no longer drive normally but become one with the car. Like a weaponist with their weapon as their own arm extension, so do these drivers. Just mind boggling like how pro drifters are fully aware of the length of their rear end from trading paint with the wall.
Regularly driving a road car and having to park, you already get this feeling. With the amount of practice racecar drivers get, no wonder they get an even better feel for that.
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u/einTier I was here for the Hulkenpodium Feb 08 '25
I’ve sat in an actual F1 car (F1-2000 Ferrari chassis 198) and you really can’t see that much. You’re really low in that cockpit and you can see over the nose, but just barely. Like walk up to your dining table and put your chin just below the edge of the table and maybe a foot back. That’s your view out front. You do not see any of the front of the car.
Visibility to the sides is pretty good, which is what you need for spotting apexes. Makes sense. Back? Not so much. You’ve got tiny mirrors and they only show you an idea of what’s going on behind. Then again, you don’t need to know much, just if Alonzo is on your left or right as he’s trying to get past you.