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The Williams team has revealed its strong opposition to Jean Todt's idea that formula one should consider reintroducing in-race refuelling. The FIA president said a few days ago that teams should think about accepting the extra cost of taking refuelling rigs to grands prix if it spices up the action.
"I am very much against refuelling," Williams deputy boss Claire Williams declared at the weekend. "The manufacturers have spent hundreds of millions on these hybrid power units, which are relevant to the road and the debate about energy efficiency. I think to go back to a gas-guzzling F1 is entirely the wrong message," she added.
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Two other Williams team figures wholeheartedly agree. "It (refuelling) doesn't improve the spectacle," said chief engineer Rob Smedley, "and it increases costs." Technical boss Pat Symonds confirmed: "I'm strongly opposed to refuelling. It's extremely expensive at a time when the financial model (in F1) is difficult. And I think recent evidence has shown that it detracts a lot from the racing," he added.
Meanwhile, Symonds also suggested that amid disagreement about how F1 should proceed with its sweeping chassis rules changes for 2017, the sport should now consider a wholesale delay until 2018. "I would be happy if we moved the new rules from 2017 to 2018," he said, "to investigate properly what we really need to be doing." (GMM)
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Replies (2)
Login to replykhasmir
Posts: 893
Not sure reintroducing refueling is a good idea but I do not agree with Williams why it should not be done. Refueling does not mean less efficiency and an increase in fuel consumption. If they keep the same limitations in fuel flow and total fuel consumption, the cars should actually be more efficient since they don't have to carry all that dead weight during most of the race.
The cost is a different matter. Maybe with smaller fuel tanks you don't need to be able to pump so much fuel during each stop so the fueling rigs can be smaller and cheaper?
Regarding the rule changes, pretty sure it's too late for major changes in 2017. More likely it will be 2018 but for that to happen they will have to actually do something instead of talking about talking...
kerolitos
Posts: 4
I totally agree with your math.
Unfortunately It's politics again and for the sake of communication I'm sure 'F1 cars can race a go on only a tank of gas without refueling' sounds better than 'F1 cars are really low on fuel consumption, they still have to refuel but actually just for a few litters, and still use less than 100kg!'.
Even if 'a tank' is not a definite unit of measurement it's easy for most people. ^^
F1 has been already too complicated to explain to your buddies at the pub! :p