Aug
21st
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From GMM
Red Bull Racing was experimenting with an all-electric Formula 1 car at Spa on Wednesday, publications reveal.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport and Italy's Autosprint say the reigning world champions' electric prototype was in fact a 2013 Red Bull RB9 sporting a 2014 nose.
But the real novelty was its propulsion -- an all-electric motor to power the car in and out of the pit lane 'box' as the mechanics practiced pit stops.
After a practice stop, Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini reveals, the mechanic in the cockpit pushed a button, a reverse warning 'beeps', and the car lurched backwards to be ready for another stop.
Normally, the car is pushed forward by two or three strong mechanics.
"This is the new Formula E," Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner quoted a Red Bull mechanic as joking.
He added that among the fascinated observers in the Spa-Francorchamps pitlane on Wednesday was none other than FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer.
Red Bull Racing was experimenting with an all-electric Formula 1 car at Spa on Wednesday, publications reveal.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport and Italy's Autosprint say the reigning world champions' electric prototype was in fact a 2013 Red Bull RB9 sporting a 2014 nose.
But the real novelty was its propulsion -- an all-electric motor to power the car in and out of the pit lane 'box' as the mechanics practiced pit stops.
After a practice stop, Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini reveals, the mechanic in the cockpit pushed a button, a reverse warning 'beeps', and the car lurched backwards to be ready for another stop.
Red Bull pit stop (Photo: WRI2) |
Normally, the car is pushed forward by two or three strong mechanics.
"This is the new Formula E," Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner quoted a Red Bull mechanic as joking.
He added that among the fascinated observers in the Spa-Francorchamps pitlane on Wednesday was none other than FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer.