It's all about the clutch mechanism.
The F1 gearboxes are semi automatic. That is, the changes are manually selected, but the actual changing and the clutch operation is automatic. Plus they are sequential (like bike gearboxes). Despite them always being pushed backwards, they do have a reverse gear (to satisfy race regulations). But it is generally a bit rubbish.
Traditional autos are slower because of the torque convertor. This is effectively just a big fan driven by the engine, sitting in a viscous fluid, driving a second fan that is at the front of the gearbox. As you can imagine, this isn't as efficient as a clutch for accelerating.
Dunno if any of you auto drivers have tried this, but torque convertors are rated with a "stall speed". If you press your foot down on the brake to keep the car stationary, whilst in drive, and push on the accelerator, when the engine gets to the stall speed it will stall (funnily enough!). So, an auto WILL stall on a hill start if it is steep enough. But, traditional autos generally aren't paired with teeny tiny engines so you would be hard pressed to find such a hill.
The gearbox itself is quite clever. I don't know about the latest 6-speed jobbies, but the older autos are constructed from planetary gears. This allows them to change ratios pretty much instantaneously. I don't know why they don't make manual gearboxes this way, perhaps they aren't as efficient.
Of course, in 20 years we will all have CVTs anyway. Best of both worlds.
The F1 gearboxes are semi automatic. That is, the changes are manually selected, but the actual changing and the clutch operation is automatic. Plus they are sequential (like bike gearboxes). Despite them always being pushed backwards, they do have a reverse gear (to satisfy race regulations). But it is generally a bit rubbish.
Traditional autos are slower because of the torque convertor. This is effectively just a big fan driven by the engine, sitting in a viscous fluid, driving a second fan that is at the front of the gearbox. As you can imagine, this isn't as efficient as a clutch for accelerating.
Dunno if any of you auto drivers have tried this, but torque convertors are rated with a "stall speed". If you press your foot down on the brake to keep the car stationary, whilst in drive, and push on the accelerator, when the engine gets to the stall speed it will stall (funnily enough!). So, an auto WILL stall on a hill start if it is steep enough. But, traditional autos generally aren't paired with teeny tiny engines so you would be hard pressed to find such a hill.
The gearbox itself is quite clever. I don't know about the latest 6-speed jobbies, but the older autos are constructed from planetary gears. This allows them to change ratios pretty much instantaneously. I don't know why they don't make manual gearboxes this way, perhaps they aren't as efficient.
Of course, in 20 years we will all have CVTs anyway. Best of both worlds.
