How Mercedes F1's Ingenious Split Turbo Works
04-10-14, 10:20 AM
#17
Don't forget that straight line speeds are up. The decrease in lap times comes from reduced aero and harder tires that can deal with the higher torque at low speeds and ultimately the fuel flow limit.
For those that haven't been following F1 as long and rue the day they switch to 4 cyl motors be aware that F1 already *had* them! 850 hp and won the world championship.
Sure I miss the sound of V12s but the overall technology is awesome and it's great to see drivers drive (rather than hang on as the aero "sticks" the car to the road) and to actually be able to hear the tires etc... is kind of cool even if that isn't as awe inspiring as the wail of a V12.
For those that haven't been following F1 as long and rue the day they switch to 4 cyl motors be aware that F1 already *had* them! 850 hp and won the world championship.
Sure I miss the sound of V12s but the overall technology is awesome and it's great to see drivers drive (rather than hang on as the aero "sticks" the car to the road) and to actually be able to hear the tires etc... is kind of cool even if that isn't as awe inspiring as the wail of a V12.
04-10-14, 01:53 PM
#18
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The tech is fascinating and it will be great to see the technology trickle down to our future cars soon enough.
I'm one however, that still wants to go back to the days of the V10 and car style - Sooo Fast Sooo Loud
I'm one however, that still wants to go back to the days of the V10 and car style - Sooo Fast Sooo Loud
04-12-14, 09:58 AM
#19
Yes, the switch to the new formula has totally reset and shaken up the playing field. I think the Bahrain race was the most fun to watch of any in the last year or two, at least.
Mercedes put on quite a show up front and other teams put on good shows further back. Suddenly the Red Bull engineering team aren't the geniuses they have been lauded as being before. (I suspect that their IQs haven't really changed much.)
But the same shakeup would have occurred if the formula had reverted to larger NA engines or allowed traction control or something else.
So this change in the rules has made the races more exciting (at least for a little while) which is good, but that's a slightly different topic than what the new formula actually is.
The races might be even more exciting with a reset playing field and faster (rather than slower) cars.
Mercedes put on quite a show up front and other teams put on good shows further back. Suddenly the Red Bull engineering team aren't the geniuses they have been lauded as being before. (I suspect that their IQs haven't really changed much.)
But the same shakeup would have occurred if the formula had reverted to larger NA engines or allowed traction control or something else.
So this change in the rules has made the races more exciting (at least for a little while) which is good, but that's a slightly different topic than what the new formula actually is.
The races might be even more exciting with a reset playing field and faster (rather than slower) cars.
04-12-14, 10:13 AM
#20
Some of the teams, like Lotus, are barely able to field the cars they have with the budgets they have and some are having troubles getting the cars to run. Like both McLaren cars (even though already Mercedes powered) retired from the Bahrain race with clutch problems and a Renault-powered Caterham retired with an oil leak.
Red Bull and Ferrari might have the budget to make these kind of changes but I suspect several of the other teams do not.
04-12-14, 10:16 AM
#21
yes of course, teams are doing their best to invest their> $500 million budgets and make their cars faster.... despite all the restrictions.
IMHO, unfortunately, F1 cars are simply not so fast anymore... 8s off pace vs 2004 units, and only 2s faster than GP2 cars.
Even the tech - LMP1 has more tech permitted than F1 now, and flexibility in rules allow for greater valiance of technology. F1 has become more about F1 politics than racing.
For instance, for 2014 LMP1, Toyota is using NA V8, Audi is using V6 turbo diesel and Porsche is using 4cly turbo.
IMHO, unfortunately, F1 cars are simply not so fast anymore... 8s off pace vs 2004 units, and only 2s faster than GP2 cars.
Even the tech - LMP1 has more tech permitted than F1 now, and flexibility in rules allow for greater valiance of technology. F1 has become more about F1 politics than racing.
For instance, for 2014 LMP1, Toyota is using NA V8, Audi is using V6 turbo diesel and Porsche is using 4cly turbo.
