unless rules state "DRIVE ROUGH BASTARDS" drive smoothly all the time! smoothness gives you more speed thru the turn or whatever, and a safer way thru. but still, drifting is cool

Old thread! someone has brought it up so I will add my point

The Roughness Vs Smoothness arguement is almost pointless. All it does it to serve as a distraction away from the important things you should be concentrating on

Smoothness, or roughness are consequences, and NOT causes of going fast. Let me explain.

A common mistake people make is they say to a driver -

"You must driver smoother"

That alone is an empty statement. Rather than sitting, and trying to understand the fundementals of grip, and how to attack a specific corner people get caught up in a certain style, in this case - smoothness. Trying to be 'smooth' may make you faster up and until a point, but it will not take you to that extra level needed to put in proper fast laps.

To go ULTRA fast you have to throw away the concept of being smooth, or rough, and analyse each corner, each car/kart, each race, and each track in it's own right.

90% of the time as a consequence of doing this - analysing each corner/track/race etc... - you will drive in a way that looks smooth. But that is a consequence, and not a cause

The question any driver should ask is

What is the fastest way from point A to point B?

The answer is simple

The fastest way... is .. the fastest way!

A 'world class' driver will be able to draw from experience, feel, and knowledge to be able to extract the maximum from any situation and not be drowned by pre-conceptions of what is either the right way, or the wrong way

Anyone seen the in cabin view of Alonso at Hungary in 06, that was probably the most wildest driving style i have ever seen in the wet but it worked, and he was able to fly through the field.

Heidfelds driving style is probably the smoothest out of the current crop of drivers and allthough it didn't really impress this year, last year was ultra consistant and hes driving style rules in the wet!

Most of these drivers have been driving soo long under there style that they can be as rough or as smooth as they are in any condition and it will suit them and the car best, so basically the answer to this thread is both are equal..

Quote from Mustafur :

Anyone seen the in cabin view of Alonso at Hungary in 06, that was probably the most wildest driving style i have ever seen in the wet but it worked, and he was able to fly through the field.

Heidfelds driving style is probably the smoothest out of the current crop of drivers and allthough it didn't really impress this year, last year was ultra consistant and hes driving style rules in the wet!

Most of these drivers have been driving soo long under there style that they can be as rough or as smooth as they are in any condition and it will suit them and the car best, so basically the answer to this thread is both are equal..

You can see that technique used quire frequently in karting on any given wet weekend as seen here Fernando was even quoted as saying that's where he got it from. The skill was being able to adapt that into driving an F1 in the wet. Sometimes that technique works sometimes it doesn't, it's all about knowing when to use it.

Unfortunately when some drivers get into cars they are told to forget about what they learned in karting about driving. It appears though the very best drivers in the world never forget any experience they have from any class of motorsport. And this is the key to being a world class driver. Being able to draw upon all knowledge and experience at will

Here is an interesting comparison between Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello's driving styles at a few key corners in the 2003 season.

Personally smooth driving in LFS is obviously easier on both myself and the car/tyres, but I need to start being more aggressive (on the turn in and when applying throttle particularly) to get a quick laptime.

Quote from ebola :

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk2p2nRK-p4

It shows the steering trace of Schumacher through Bridge. Quite interesting.

But that isn't the definition of smoothness. Smoothness is to do with the lines you take, (particularly entry in to corners and linking corner combinations), and the aggression of braking/throttle and steering (when entering the corner). All the above video shows is that Schumacher is closer to the limit of traction and is continually correcting for small slides, which Herbert would be doing too if he was as anywhere near the limit as Schumacher is. It's the difference in throttle in this particular comparision that is the difference between smooth and agressive. Note Herberts comment about Senna being very "jabby" on the throttle compared to Schumacher.

Essentially smoothness is defined by more progressive control inputs and more gradual turn in to corners as opposed to an aggressive style which uses more dramatic/larger control inputs and later turn in to corners.

Senna, Villeneuve and Alonso were rough drivers, but they were very good at their driving style. Now, for me, the driving style depends on the car's stability. In case of a difficult car to drive, I would try to be as smooth and careful as possible, but with a stable, nice car to drive I wouldn't completely change my driving style, but I'd try to go a bit harder and not to push the car too much. So, a smooth, careful, steady drive for me.

drift in, smooth out.

Quote from Senninha25 :

Senna, Villeneuve and Alonso were rough drivers,

Already counting him among the departed ?

fonzie is smooth, so that must be the best way to do it.

Steering frantically with front wheels = slow

Steering carefully with the throttle = fast

At least in an FBMW anyway.

As always, someone very good at something knows and lives by the rules, a true genius knows when to break them...

although i voted smooth because it is the best way to keep momentum and therefore get quicker times i also believe you have to push the limits sometimes, i would say drive rough, but just push the boundries in some situations

Quote from james12s :

although i voted smooth because it is the best way to keep momentum and therefore get quicker times i also believe you have to push the limits sometimes, i would say drive rough, but just push the boundries in some situations

Yeah but pushing the limits isnt about making wild motions with the steering wheel or stomping agressively on thje brakes or power, its more about leaving the braking just a little bit later, or getting the power on a bit sooner, or taking a sweeper flat out which usually you wouldn't dare do.

Of course this can result in the car breaking away big time, and so may require some rather quick wheel action to keep the car straight, but I don't think it has anything to do with being rough with the controls.

In LFS, the harder I try, the slower I get.

I would like to ask what do u mean in terms of smootheness and roughness. here is what i have to say. Smootheness would be more or less the more efficient of the two but u still need the excitement roughness cuz think about it when u watch rally u can feel some sort of experience of the drivers when they make there way trough the course. So on that note I am saying its a balance between the two beaucse both have advantages and disadvantages. Smootheness is for the conservative n roughness is for the reckless lol