Just_a_fan wrote: ↑25 Aug 2022, 09:37
atanatizante wrote: ↑25 Aug 2022, 07:54
So what is interesting to see, from my professional point of view, is the fact that the lubs and particularly the fuel is designed with Petronas for better combustion, hence better thermal efficiency and consumption rather than increasing the ICE power output ...
That could be translated that they are aiming to develop the engine in order to run harder for a longer time ...
Would another benefit be that they could start with a bit less fuel and thus a bit less weight? Even a kilo saved would help over the course of a race, I'd have thought. Or are the gains you mention too small to be noticeable in terms of weight?
You are just right: when we talk about better combustion that means the same energy is made from less fuel ...
Now regarding the time gained over a lap, I read that even this year 10kg of fuel equates to 3.5 - 4 tenths (race dependent), so for 1kg of fuel they could gain some 35 - 40 hundred seconds per lap, which over a 70 lap race it`s worth some 2.45 - 2.8 sec ... Yeah, I know you could say that a race could be won even with a couple of tenths gained at the pitstop, but I don`t think they are focusing on that particular area, in this case, coz this benefit is too small compared to the amount of development/money spent for it ...
The main reason is that their development had reached the law of diminishing returns regarding big power outputs over a year, that`s why a said I think they are more focused to bring gains in the thermal efficiency area aka combustion and more towards running the engine harder and longer in higher modes ... it`s true that the lubs could lower ICE`s internal frictions and rise the thermal flow efficiency but from my point of view this could be done more due to mechanical developments ...
