John Barnard: Talk Show in association with Motor Sport

Former Ferrari and McLaren designer John Barnard, the man who introduced the carbon monocoque to Formula 1 and the paddle-shift gearbox, joins us to look back on his distinguished career.
In London to launch his new autobiography, 'The Perfect Car', he considers if such a thing exists, looks back on his career, the rights and wrongs of his time at Ferrari, the back story to Nigel Mansell's 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix win and much more.
Unfortunately, a microphone failed during recorded. We apologise for the audio quality of presenter Jack Phillips.

[@timwhiskerd2133]

Of all the big names we have seen on this pod cast thingy,, JB is by far the most interesting to listern to. I loved every minute. As a young lad, working at Cosworth I was sent to Watford BS Fabs to bring or collect some fabrication work. Bob Sparshot was there and he showed me some parts of the Indy car designed by JB. I went back to Cosworth full of ideas to work for BS because I had been so impressed with what I'd seen. To end the story I stayed at Cosworth, which i the long run was the best choice. All the same I have never forgotten this event.

[@paulconnelly4050]

What a legend, such a genius and so down to earth with it. Another fantastic podcast from Motorsport and RAC.

[@constantineeleftheriadis6642]

Love the man to bits! Legend!

[@gearsau]

Another good podcast. I better order John Barnard's book.

[@BokorRider]

Well at least JB was properly mic'd up making this worth the watch thanks for the effort

[@SmashGhost]

The visuals are of significantly better quality than the audio... wrong focus. Still a fascinating conversation - thank you.

[@PMcKay00]

47:20 The Brabham BT-46 fan car was not illegal. It got FIA approval to run for the rest of 1978, but they said they would ban it for 1979. Ecclestone withdrew the car to save the early fragile FOCA group.

[@SEAN518848]

The audio is significantly worse than the handheld microphone that used previously. Fantastic podcast nonetheless.

[@Motorsportmagazine]

Can only apologise for that, unfortunately the microphone failed during the podcast. Our usual man behind the camera and desk wasn't available, normal service will resume.

[@curva130r]

Cool one guys : )!

[@philippruest5577]

While Mansell won the season opener in 89, Berger didn't even finish a race before... Monza, race 12! Wonderful revolutionarycar, the 640.

[@mytinplaterailway]

Shame about the sound quality.

[@SEAN518848]

Also showing a talkshow that all participants are sitting down in 60fps is just wrong... I know this is a podcast and visual is not that important but still...

[@brawngp9443]

32:26 sounds like the carbon fiber monocoque and it´s failure was the reason why Gilles was killed?

[@hughanthony2001]

The composite monocoque he's talking about wasn't made from carbon fibre.

[@markwrx]

I have just finished the book and he (John Barnard) makes it clear that Ferrari's lack of experience in laying up carbon fiber / carbon composite resulted in the monocoque failing at the rear cockpit bulkhead. Villeneuve, still in his seat, flew out the car and into the catch fencing. Of course, there was another Ferrari F1 car, much later, sold to a private owner that also split, this time at the main cockpit bulkhead, just ahead of the driver's seat.

[@michaellorenson2997]

@@markwrx Also, it was a hell of a big shunt! Villeneuve had essentially driven through another car at full chat.

[@66PHILB]

You have to be careful about what John is saying. There was a lot of concern about the failure of the tub at Zolder in Gilles' accident but it wasn't a composite structure. The Ferrari 126C2 had an aluminium honeycomb monocoque designed by Harvey Postlethwaite. When Gilles was killed, it had no carbon composites in it. In fact Ferrari added carbon composite strengthening around the cockpit later in the season.

[@SEAN518848]

color doesn't match between different cameras... sorry to be picky but you must have changed your fliming crew.

[@TheKestevon]

If he moved to Maranello ferrari wouldn't need to call up Brawn and Rory Bryne.

[@michaelastockbauer672]

Thats a good one! John Barnard was not able to Build a winning car in the 90's....all his cars were pretty bad! John Barnard was a mechanical genius, but as aerodynamics and electronics became much more important than mechanics - his Time was over. And thats pretty obvious since after 1986 his cars became worse and worse...so even if he moved to Maranello - Ferrari would need to call up Brawn and Byrne.

[@PMcKay00]

@@michaelastockbauer672 have a look at the Chaparral 2K. Have a look at the 'Coke Bottle' tail (sometimes called the McLaren tail). Have a look at the single post rear wing from the 70's. Have a look at the continuous front wing from the Benetton B191. All were pretty groundbreaking or original, and all from John Barnard. He was very good at aerodynamics, and advanced wind tunnels a lot. Have a look at the 1995 Ferrari 412 too. It had radical sidepods which should have worked but the car overheated. The sidepods were blamed, however, it was because the engine department didn't check the flows and one radiator was hardly being used. He introduced the electronically controlled gearbox. He introduced the dashboard on the steering wheel etc. etc....

[@markwilliams9318]

John Barnard is by far the most innovative designer of all time period. No one is responsible for more innovations (too many to name here) than him! A true genius..,the like of which we do not see sadly anymore in modern F1.

[@markwilliams9318]

@@michaelastockbauer672 Clueless...check your facts...in all aspects of design Barnard is a genius. I think you should buy his book.😡

[@michaelastockbauer672]

Mark Williams i know his Book. But i also Know Barnards Problems very good...and Barnard was far away from the music in the 90's...he was not able to build a really good car anymore. There is something of a genius in him. I do not doubt that. But his time was over in the Late 80's. Aerodynamics took over. Aerodynamics were more important than anything else for sucess. And Barnard was not good at that. Also he stucked to the wrong principles of how a modern F1 Car should be designed...the weight distributions were totally wrong. In all his cars were fundamental errors(in his cars in the 90's). Weight Distribution, Aerodynamics. And that was Barnards Problem, and why others were better than him in the 90's... so - he was a Genius and the best Designer of the 80's yes. But he did not go with the time. And if you Know his Book, you Know Barbard is a Diva who always thinks he is right...so he stuck to his philosophy. But this Philosophy was as wrong in the 90's....Maybe you should read some of the Interviews Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn gave about the F310 B and what errors this car had, and how they fixed them...or Gustav Brunners Interviews of how he had to fix fundamental errors in the other of Barnards cars...

[@peppemberton9948]

Yawn..!!