How the V6 redistributed the cards?
- jfpin97
- 28 déc. 2014
- 3 min de lecture
Call it V6 shortly would sound false,because its constitution makes it unique.In effect,this engine is the engineers' fantasy.In all times,Formula 1,as the queen of mechanics sports had the destiny to innovate in order to go always faster,inventing technologies more complexes years after years that influenced the constructors of tourism cars,until the security question was asked in the 80's,justified by the fact that two drivers died each year in Formula 1.Thanks to it,no driver died since Ayrton Senna in 1994,even Jules Bianchi survived after his terrible accident in last October at Suzuka. Today,energy economy takes place as the main problem to solve.This V6,which appeared in 2014,has the goal to be as powerful as the precedent engine,the "classic" V8 (about 750 hp) and to reduce from 40% of its fuel consommation for a debit of 100kgs/hour.Then,it restrains its power to some 600 hp.But the downsizing is compensated by new thermic energy recuperation system which appears in add to the one already there which stocks the downforce energy giving 160 more hp to the V6 hybrid.This technology,already used by trucks,catch the energy at the waste gate,a system that the constructors will apply to reduce the fuel consummation of usual cars.Concretely,on modern Formula 1,this electric energy is used to regulate the turbo at a low regime,decreasing its answer time,making the car more explosive and easier to drive.But the implantation of the turbo has a price and asks an overeating provoking overheating.That is why this engine has also a cooler of overeating air. Without exaggerate,we can say that this engine is a revolution because if it gets an electric one of 160 hp,this costs an ultra sophistication which demands the double of main components than the old V8,but also a great reliability because those engines will have to run for 2000km.
The constructors in Formula 1 are three:Mercedes,Ferrari and Renault.If the V8 of the last years were almost the same from a motorist to another,the new rules obliged the engineers to restart from a blank pagethat gave three engines with different characteristics which did not have the same yield,giving the advantage to the Mercedes block.If it is the best for the moment -Honda will arrive in 2015- it is because of its homogeneity.In effect,Lotus is the only team to switch between Renault and Mercedes and a anonymous source revealed a difference of 18kgs,the french one is the heaviest.A huge difference when everybody is according to say that 10kgs provoke a lost of 3 tenths of a second per lap.In add,this source has also let run the fact that the german had 85 more hp than the french!This explains the power difference that everyone noticed through the year. For the engineers of Viry-Chatillon,the horizon gets dark because with the engine freeze,it will be difficult for them to give more power to their block.Teams under contract with the french brand understood it well,Lotus first, who,even in a difficult financial situation,did not hesitate to rip off the contract to get the Mercedes block.Red Bull from its side let perceive its annoyance even if their four constructors and drivers titles were won with the Renault engine from 2010 to 2013 and the rumor that the Austrian brand could build its own engine grows,it would concern also the other Red Bull team,Toro Rosso.Stay Caterham still equipped by the Renault engine but the team could fail quickly.Has the french brand let go any hope? But quid of Ferrari,which got only two podiums in 2014,and who just lost its best driver,Fernando Alonso,tired to fight for the honor places,traducing the febrility of the Italians.In effect the Ferrari engine is equipping three teams which only got the crumbs let by the Mercedes,Williams,McLaren or Force India,teams which have the german engine.This could have been explained at the start of the 2014 season,when Ferrari made the choice to build a compact engine favoriting aerodynamic.Bet lost by Ferrari who had to abdicate in front of the germans in its temple of speed at Monza in last September,provoking the anger of the tifosis. The acquires of yesterday disappeared,Formula 1 made its mutation,turbo hybrid V6 redistributed the cards.
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