F1 Official Thread - Grand Prix of Britain

[zk1mpls]

Scratch that...

 

[Sinner]

Based on the article, looks like RBR were at fault.  They used a fuel-flow censor that wasn't the FIA homoligated one... 

http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/03/16/christian-horner-its-impossible-to-rely-100-on-that-sensor/

 

[zk1mpls]

‪#‎F1‬ Here is the detailed press release from the FIA about Ricciardo's exclusion from the Australian GP:
1) The Technical Delegate reported to the Stewards that Car 3 exceeded the required fuel mass flow of 100kg/h. (Article 5.1.4 of the Formula One Technical Regulations)
2) This parameter is outside of the control of the driver, Daniel Ricciardo.
3) The fuel flow is measured using the fuel flow sensor (Art. 5.10.3 & 5.10.4 of the Technical Regulations) which is homologated by the FIA and owned and operated by the team.
4) The stewards considered the history of the fitted fuel flow sensor, as described by the team and the Technical Delegate’s representative who administers the program. Their description of the history of the sensor matches.
a. During Practice 1 a difference in reading between the first three and Run 4 was detected. The same readings as Run 4 were observed throughout Practice 2.
b. The team used a different sensor on Saturday but did not get readings that were satisfactory to them or the FIA, so they were instructed to change the sensor within Parc Ferme on Saturday night.
c. They operated the original sensor during the race, which provided the same readings as Run 4 of Practice 1, and Practice 2.
5) The Stewards heard from the technical representative that when the sensor was installed on Saturday night, he instructed the team to apply an offset to their fuel flow such that the fuel flow would have been legal. He presented an email to the stewards that verified his instruction.
6) The technical representative stated to the Stewards that there is variation in the sensors. However, the sensors fall within a known range, and are individually calibrated. They then become the standard which the teams must use for their fuel flow.
7) The team stated that based on the difference observed between the two readings in P1, they considered the fuel flow sensor to be unreliable. Therefore, for the start of the race they chose to use their internal fuel flow model, rather than the values provided by the sensor, with the required offset.
Technical Directive 016­14 (1 March 2014) provides the methodology by which the sensor will be used, and, should the sensor fail, the method by which the alternate model could be used.
a. The Technical Directive starts by stating: “The homologated fuel flow sensor will be the primary measurement of the fuel flow and will be used to check compliance with Articles 5.1.4 and 5.1.5 of the F1 Technical Regulations…” This is in conformity with Articles 5.10.3 and 5.10.4 of the Technical Regulations.
b. The Technical Directive goes on to state: “If at any time WE consider that the sensor has an issue which has not been detected by the system WE will communicate this to the team concerned and switch to a backup system” (emphasis added.)
c. The backup system is the calculated fuel flow model with a correction factor decided by the FIA.
9) The FIA technical representative observed throughout the telemetry during the race that the fuel flow was too high and contacted the team, giving them the opportunity to follow his previous instruction, and reduce the fuel flow such that it was within the limit, as measured by the homologated sensor – and thus gave the team the opportunity to be within compliance.
*****The team chose not to make this correction.******
10) Under Art. 3.2 of the Sporting Regulations it is the duty of the team to ensure compliance with the Technical Regulations throughout the Event. Thus the Stewards find that:
A) The team chose to run the car using their fuel flow model, without direction from the FIA. This is a violation of the procedure within TD/ 016­14.
B) That although the sensor showed a difference in readings between runs in P1, it remains the homologated and required sensor against which the team is obliged to measure their fuel flow, unless given permission by the FIA to do
otherwise.
C) The Stewards were satisfied by the explanation of the technical representative that by making an adjustment as instructed, the team could have run within the allowable fuel flow.
D) That regardless of the team’s assertion that the sensor was fault, it is not within their discretion to run a different fuel flow measurement method without the permission of the FIA.

 

[zk1mpls]

Regarding the fact that the team ignored requests from the FIA to make an adjustment during the race, he said: “They informed us and we informed them that we had serious concerns over their sensor. We believed in our reading, otherwise you are in a situation where you are reducing significant amounts of power with the engine, when we believed we fully comply with the regulations. If we end up with that situation, depending on the calibration of your sensor, the plus and minus, it will dictate quite simply who is competitive and who isn’t.”

 

[Sinner]

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/red-bull-faces-disqualification-for-breaking-f1-fuel-rules/

 

[zk1mpls]

And you thought "BUT GRO PER" was bad...

 

[Sinner]

 Juveniles... 

Anyway...

Where's Lewis???

A defiant Horner...

 

[Sinner]

 

[zk1mpls]

Man, now I feel bad for not attending a race when the V8s were running... even more so for the V10s. :x :\

 

[Thierry Henry]

Couldn't watch the race live since it was scheduled at 2AM over here and I have yet to watch a replay. But I'm just glad finger boy didn't finish at all


We finally broke our podium drought, I'm gonna have to do some background research on who the Magnussen kid is.

I have a good feeling about this season, but I don't want to jinx it right now.

 

[Sinner]

Man, now I feel bad for not attending a race when the V8s were running... even more so for the V10s.

I was lucky enough to have attended my first race during the V10 era.  The McLaren-Mercedes engine sounded incredible live.  So many "layers" to the sound, which you don't hear on TV.  

I love firing this up from time to time.

Honorable mention... 

 

[zk1mpls]

Mercs running like the Brawn GP days. :x Michael might have had an actual shot at an 8th WDC if he stayed until 2014 :\

 

[Sinner]

I'm not so sure... I think Nico would have had him. 

 

[Sinner]

 

[yeezusdisciple]

why did they move to v6?

what kind of v6 engine are they running now a days and what kinda power does it make?

 

[kdawg]

The new rules are a 1.6l V6 - but with a hybrid component too (energy recovery part from braking and part from exhaust). They produce about 760hp.

Basically it was for better fuel economy and reliability - they use less fuel, are smaller and you only get 5 a season now. F1 trying to be more environmentally friendly - the cars produce similar power to last year but we'll have to see how it works out.

 

[yeezusdisciple]

how do they manage so much power out of a 1.6 v6?

they rev to like 20k rpm?

 

[kookcle]

how do they manage so much power out of a 1.6 v6?

they rev to like 20k rpm?

Its Turbocharged and limited to 15k rpm.

This video explains it well

Cool video.

 

[zk1mpls]

The new rules are a 1.6l V6 - but with a hybrid component too (energy recovery part from braking and part from exhaust). They produce about 760hp.

Basically it was for better fuel economy and reliability - they use less fuel, are smaller and you only get 5 a season now. F1 trying to be more environmentally friendly - the cars produce similar power to last year but we'll have to see how it works out.

In addition to that, there is an engine development freeze over the past few years before each season begins. They are trying to keep costs down for the smaller teams to be more competitive.

Understandably, lap times are down compared to last year, especially with the teams being forced to use 1/3 less fuel, and with that controversial fuel flow rate rule.

But outside of the engines sounding not that good, it seems to be good for the sport. The new rules really did shake up the field quite a bit -even if Mercedes looks quite a bit ahead at the moment.

Here's a video on the new range of wet weather tyres for the season. Looks like they're trying to make a larger contact patch with the road.


Looking forward to the first proper wet race of the season. All that torque would prove to be a challenge for the drivers.

 

[Sinner]

Looks like you guys have covered it!

Purely rumor, but word is, the Merc "power-unit" can produce close to 900hp.  Exaggerated?  Perhaps, but anything remotely close to that figure is mind-boggling.  

The Malaysian heat next week will be a HUGE test. 

EDIT ~ 

 

[zk1mpls]

^Awesome

Current and former F1 tracks drawn to scale vs. the other tracks

 

[Sinner]

Didn't realize Monza was that big!

The March 21 Google Doodle... 

 

[kdawg]

^it's all straight lines though. Would be interesting to see the relative length in miles not the area they surround.

 

[Sinner]

^ Yeah, I worded that wrong... I guess I shoulda said that I didn't realize it covered so much land!  Of course, it has to, being the fastest GP.  

Crazy that, this year, the gears that will run at Monaco will be the same ones that'll run at Monza.  

 

[kdawg]

And with lengths: