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Our colleague Craig Scarborough of ScrabsF1 was in Austin for the US Grand Prix and we talked about the 2014 V6 power units to be introduced in Formula 1 next season.
In a technical article we published November 14, titled “Eight fixed gear ratios for 2014” we wrote that for the new year F1 cars will require gearboxes with eight fixed gear ratios.
We asked Scarborough why the move to a “standard gearbox” in which the ratios are set was implemented for the entire season.
“The FIA wants to simplify things a bit by making the new power unit one complete package, and that would include the 1.6L V6 engine itself, the exhausts and the turbocharger, the Energy Recovery System (ERS), Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic (MGU-K), Motor Generator Unit - Heat (MGU-H), gearbox and transmission,” Scarborough replied.
This would prevent customer teams from having to shop around to find the right bits and pieces. The three power-unit manufacturers -- Ferrari, Mercedes, and Renault -- can propose complete packages to their customer teams.
“The idea behind this is to reduce costs as much as possible. The new power units will be extremely expensive, massively more than the current V8s. That's also why the FIA has cut down on the number of power units that each driver will be allowed to use during the 2014 season,” Scarborough explained.
The Brit continued by telling us that most people are missing the point with the introduction of the turbo hybrids next year.
“It's a shame that the main message being broadcasted is about the sound these power units will make. For me this is irrelevant. The big news should be that F1 will be using an engine that will use 30% less fuel for the same amount of power as this year. Imagine your reaction if your car salesman tells you that this new road car uses 30% less fuel! I think most people are missing the point here,” he added.
Next year, the cars will be limited to using only 100kg of fuel to cover the 300km of a Grand Prix. Not only will the size of the fuel tank be limited, but the fuel flow feeding the engine will also be restricted.
“Although there will be a mandatory 15,000 rpm rev limit put on the new engines, they will not rev that high. They will probably not exceed 10,500 rpm or around that figure,” Scarborough told Auto123.
“Since the engine will be fitted with one homologated FIA fuel flow sensor fuel restrictor, engineers realised through simulations and bench testing that revving the motor above that figure will be useless. Worst, the engine would then run much leaner, which is no good at all for reliability. But I am convinced that these power units will sound fantastic!” he said.
What about this gearbox with eight fixed gear ratios?
“Next year's power units will generate so much torque that four or five speeds would be plenty enough. On certain tracks, the driver will only use five speeds; while on others, they'll use seven or eight,” Scarborough explained.
In a technical article we published November 14, titled “Eight fixed gear ratios for 2014” we wrote that for the new year F1 cars will require gearboxes with eight fixed gear ratios.
We asked Scarborough why the move to a “standard gearbox” in which the ratios are set was implemented for the entire season.
“The FIA wants to simplify things a bit by making the new power unit one complete package, and that would include the 1.6L V6 engine itself, the exhausts and the turbocharger, the Energy Recovery System (ERS), Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic (MGU-K), Motor Generator Unit - Heat (MGU-H), gearbox and transmission,” Scarborough replied.
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| The V6 power unit of Renault Sport. (Photo: Renault) |
This would prevent customer teams from having to shop around to find the right bits and pieces. The three power-unit manufacturers -- Ferrari, Mercedes, and Renault -- can propose complete packages to their customer teams.
“The idea behind this is to reduce costs as much as possible. The new power units will be extremely expensive, massively more than the current V8s. That's also why the FIA has cut down on the number of power units that each driver will be allowed to use during the 2014 season,” Scarborough explained.
The Brit continued by telling us that most people are missing the point with the introduction of the turbo hybrids next year.
“It's a shame that the main message being broadcasted is about the sound these power units will make. For me this is irrelevant. The big news should be that F1 will be using an engine that will use 30% less fuel for the same amount of power as this year. Imagine your reaction if your car salesman tells you that this new road car uses 30% less fuel! I think most people are missing the point here,” he added.
Next year, the cars will be limited to using only 100kg of fuel to cover the 300km of a Grand Prix. Not only will the size of the fuel tank be limited, but the fuel flow feeding the engine will also be restricted.
“Although there will be a mandatory 15,000 rpm rev limit put on the new engines, they will not rev that high. They will probably not exceed 10,500 rpm or around that figure,” Scarborough told Auto123.
“Since the engine will be fitted with one homologated FIA fuel flow sensor fuel restrictor, engineers realised through simulations and bench testing that revving the motor above that figure will be useless. Worst, the engine would then run much leaner, which is no good at all for reliability. But I am convinced that these power units will sound fantastic!” he said.
What about this gearbox with eight fixed gear ratios?
“Next year's power units will generate so much torque that four or five speeds would be plenty enough. On certain tracks, the driver will only use five speeds; while on others, they'll use seven or eight,” Scarborough explained.