The next details about F1's potential new engine formula for 2021 are now emerging. Following a meeting with current and potential engine suppliers, FIA president Jean Todt revealed last week that the plan is to make the current 'power units' simpler, cheaper and louder for the future.
New F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn is also on board, declaring: "Before we think about a sustainable car concept for formula one, the engine must be clarified. "Everything else depends on it."
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport has the first details. Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the early frontrunner for the 2021 engine concept is a V6 twin-turbo producing 1200 horse power -- and missing altogether is the current 'MGU-H' technology.
The report said it is also possible that the batteries and turbochargers may be standardised, with the hybrid element of the engine to simply be KERS. F1 driver turned pundit for German television Sky, Marc Surer, said: "We have two problems. First, the FIA does not want to abandon hybrid engines. But the single-turbo removes the sound."
"The single biggest problem with F1 at the moment is the sound, and this is simply not solvable with one big turbo. We need two turbos. But then it becomes technically difficult to get energy from the exhaust. So the FIA may need to sacrifice the MHU-H and offer the fans a better sound." (GMM)
Am I missing something here? What proportion of fans actually attend a Grand Prix in person in comparison with the TV audience? Are we saying that we should throw everything up in the air just to satisfy that very small proportion of fans who actually attend racing (because the noise of a GP engine can't be gauged on a TV). History shows that one of the few sure ways of obtaining closer racing is to keep the rules static - leave well enough alone!
I think this is the route they will take. It's a no brainer and the tech is already there but as Major Tom implies - they are actually trying to appease a minority and that's never going to work. I believe the 'engine rules' are screwed up anyway. We had our best racing when engines were relatively free and i'd like to see that back with a capacity and some kind of fuel limit. That's it. You can put in what the heck you want. I quite liked it when the aftermarket bolted a set of 'Go-Faster' cylinder heads on to a relatively stock block and went racing. Remember the all powerful BMW L4 Turbo? The most powerful motor in F1 ever but still a stock block. Or who can forget the mighty Coventry Climax V8? A fire pump motor. In some ways, the Ford/Cosworth DFV ruined all of that and almost standardised F1 engines to the point that you had to have one to stand any chance of winning but even then it was dependent on who built the darned thing for you. They weren't all equal.
F1 isn't about parity or 'one-design'. It is about technical innovation and driver cojones...The more wicked the solution - the bigger the cojones...
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Replies (3)
Login to replyMajor Tom
Posts: 152
Am I missing something here? What proportion of fans actually attend a Grand Prix in person in comparison with the TV audience? Are we saying that we should throw everything up in the air just to satisfy that very small proportion of fans who actually attend racing (because the noise of a GP engine can't be gauged on a TV). History shows that one of the few sure ways of obtaining closer racing is to keep the rules static - leave well enough alone!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I agree, but fans are against these rules, and the ruling bodies need to pretend to care to apeace the nay-sayers.
Barron
Posts: 625
I think this is the route they will take. It's a no brainer and the tech is already there but as Major Tom implies - they are actually trying to appease a minority and that's never going to work. I believe the 'engine rules' are screwed up anyway. We had our best racing when engines were relatively free and i'd like to see that back with a capacity and some kind of fuel limit. That's it. You can put in what the heck you want. I quite liked it when the aftermarket bolted a set of 'Go-Faster' cylinder heads on to a relatively stock block and went racing. Remember the all powerful BMW L4 Turbo? The most powerful motor in F1 ever but still a stock block. Or who can forget the mighty Coventry Climax V8? A fire pump motor. In some ways, the Ford/Cosworth DFV ruined all of that and almost standardised F1 engines to the point that you had to have one to stand any chance of winning but even then it was dependent on who built the darned thing for you. They weren't all equal.
F1 isn't about parity or 'one-design'. It is about technical innovation and driver cojones...The more wicked the solution - the bigger the cojones...