have you heard the new F1 cars?

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:27 pm

Hmm!!

Lots of angles to this debate eh? I preferred the old V8 sounds. But no doubt I'll get used to the new sound in time. I've only been into F1 for the last few years now and I've enjoyed what I've seen so far.

My thought was that all teams were given a set of rules regarding engine type and size along with the type of fuel system they have to use?

Then they could improve on that to make the cars quicker. Then when all the teams had done some tweaks and copied each others ideas the F1 Mafia step in to slow them down again with more restrictions??? I'm happy with the level playing field thing as it then comes down to drivers skills and reliability. But what is the average fuel consumption thing about ??

Let them race and if they run out of fuel they are out of the race. That puts the strategy back into the hands of each team. But dont penalise them for doing a couple of laps with heavy fuel use because they wanted to catch up !! If they are now restricted to X litres of fuel per race, let them use it as they want FFS !! Its still the same amount of fuel for all cars.

What next?? Engine cuts out when they stop for a tyre change like a crap modern car at the traffic light ??

I'm now wondering if the teams will start looking at engine cut on hard braking to save fuel while kers is re charging?

Does anyone know why the new engines were required??

chodjinn · Post by **chodjinn** » Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:26 pm

I did reply but deleted it for fear of causing drama, so I'll tone it down!

Engines were changed for a number of reasons, but mainly for manufacturers. Renault threatened to pull out of F1 of the engines were not reduced to make them more relevant to their business R&D, i.e. road car applications. When the engines were changed, Honda said they would rejoin F1 in 2015. Losing renault would have been a disaster, leaving only Mercedes and Ferrari which is dangerously close to a single engine series. As it stand it will be 3 this yr, 4 next yr.

It goes without saying that F1 is the pinnacle of progressive motorsport engineering and a large amount of road tech has been derived from it, abs etc etc. For me the engine noise is irrelevant and the argument is null, the engines have always changed, V8, V10, V12, madcap turbo 4-bangers of the 80s etc so the noise has always changed.

The old V8s from last year pushed 750bhp at 18,000rpm and used an average of 150litres fuel per race. The new turbo V6s push 850bhp at 15,000rpm and used max. 100litres per race. That is a huge leap in technology never mine the 30% improvement in efficiency. And they have a truck load more torque which is available far below 15k rpm. They have a lot less downforce as well, and by all driver accounts are far harder to drive. In my opinion this has brought driver skill forward even more, which is what you want to see in a race.

Love it or loathe it, the rules and limitations are intrinsic to the nature of F1 yet the cars are a tribute to the brilliance of manufacturer design and engineering, and the fellas that drive them.

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:33 am

That makes sense to me

bones · Post by **bones** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 12:28 pm

just my own opinion, but to many electronics on them. as an old ex pro driver said " F1 is 99% car 1% driver . Watched a race a few years back and the pit lane laptop bods told the driver his foot was bouncing off the accelerator on the straight and could he keep it firm down,so much for the driver input. Get paid a lot of money to steer a laptop controlled car.

said my bit miserable git signing off

rich

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 4:49 pm

bones wrote:just my own opinion, but to many electronics on them. as an old ex pro driver said " F1 is 99% car 1% driver . Watched a race a few years back and the pit lane laptop bods told the driver his foot was bouncing off the accelerator on the straight and could he keep it firm down,so much for the driver input. Get paid a lot of money to steer a laptop controlled car. said my bit miserable git signing off rich

So you are still with us then Bones ??

chodjinn · Post by **chodjinn** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:11 am

Bahrain GP just completely quashed any and all concerns about the new rules. Best race for about 3 years!

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:58 pm

I just watched it as I was working all weekend. Now that was a race

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Tue Apr 08, 2014 7:40 am

That was a very good race, could have just been slightly better for a few screaming V10's for the audio!

Ian Anderson · Post by **Ian Anderson** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:44 pm

How long before someone sticks a diesel engine in there?

Look at all the Endurance stuff and the diesels win
http://www.audi.co.uk/audi-innovation/a ... attro.html
850nm of torque quoted (Is that engine only or including the electric gubbins?)

And their engines last a bit longer than the F1 items

Ian

chodjinn · Post by **chodjinn** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:35 pm

Yup, diesels have been at the top of Le Mans for well over a decade now, limited to either Audi or Peugeot though as they are the only two manufacturers that put enough money in to do it properly, although the year I went (2011) a privately run Audi was entered, did very well due to factory team retirements.

The Le Mans is an interesting one, as the Audis are faster but need to refuel 1 lap more than the Pugs per tank. They sound amazing as well, like nothing you have heard or expect, sort of wierd but wonderful whoooshing noise.