Infiniti Red Bull Racing 2014

[langwadt]

The main use of the mgu-h is to bleed off any turbine power above what the compressor requires and feed that power directly to the mgu-k. Anti lag is a much less effecient use of the electricity but is neccesary because they use a very large turbine to bleed as much energy out of the exhaust as possible.

Could you not also use the MGU-H as an "electric driven blower", to increase boost and make more power through the ICE (i.e. run the MGU-H to maintain a set manifold pressure). The effectiveness of this is obviously restricted by the 100kg/h fuel flow limit, but it is still a use of the harvested energy.

it can reduce lag, but with out more fuel you are not going to make more power

[Pierce89]

The main use of the mgu-h is to bleed off any turbine power above what the compressor requires and feed that power directly to the mgu-k. Anti lag is a much less effecient use of the electricity but is neccesary because they use a very large turbine to bleed as much energy out of the exhaust as possible.

Could you not also use the MGU-H as an "electric driven blower", to increase boost and make more power through the ICE (i.e. run the MGU-H to maintain a set manifold pressure). The effectiveness of this is obviously restricted by the 100kg/h fuel flow limit, but it is still a use of the harvested energy.

Driving the compressor electrically is the same as what I called "anti-lag"

[Sasha]

What I hear about the Mercedes PU from friends at Woking is.

1)it has a big turbine(that surprised them)

a)so it can spin the MGU-H all the time without effecting ICE power

b)and that leads to more power for the whole lap

c)because of direct feed of power that bypass the battery

Keep this still has rumor

[mclaren_mircea]

What I hear about the Mercedes PU from friends at Woking is.

1)it has a big turbine(that surprised them)

a)so it can spin the MGU-H all the time without effecting ICE power

b)and that leads to more power for the whole lap

c)because of direct feed of power that bypass the battery

Keep this still has rumor

Is it possible that this kind of information is already redirected towards Tochigi to help the design of the Honda engine?

[30yrF1Fan]

What I hear about the Mercedes PU from friends at Woking is.

1)it has a big turbine(that surprised them)

a)so it can spin the MGU-H all the time without effecting ICE power

b)and that leads to more power for the whole lap

c)because of direct feed of power that bypass the battery

Keep this still has rumor

Is it possible that this kind of information is already redirected towards Tochigi to help the design of the Honda engine?

It seems to validate the Analysis: What happened with Renault in Austria? in the news section - That both Renault and Ferrari have undersized turbos in relation to Mercedes.
Why can't Renault and Ferrari change their turbo now for reliability reasons to a bigger unit? Surely they could argue that the smaller turbo they are using is unreliable and a change needs to happen.

[Cam]

Why can't Renault and Ferrari change their turbo now for reliability reasons to a bigger unit? Surely they could argue that the smaller turbo they are using is unreliable and a change needs to happen.

You'd think with Vettel's form - they be able to change just about everything on that car under the premise of "reliability"?

[FW17]

Renault's F1 engine project for sale?
The rumours surrounding troubled engine supplier Renault continue to swirl.

The French marque had a nightmare race weekend in Austria, beginning with paddock rumours of a split with Red Bull, worsened by yet another failure for Sebastian Vettel, and ending with a stinging rebuke by Christian Horner.

"Seven cars in the top ten have a Mercedes engine. That says it all," said Horner.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport cited sources estimating the horse power deficit at between 40 and 70bhp.

And with the mandatory engine development 'freeze', there is little Renault can do short of arguing to the FIA that the rules should be relaxed so that Mercedes' rivals have a chance.

"That will not happen," insisted Dr Helmut Marko. "The focus is on next year."

But now, the latest shock rumour: correspondent Michael Schmidt says he has heard paddock whispers that the F1 engine facility at Viry-Chattilon is for sale.

Schmidt said F1 is costing Renault "more than expected" at some EUR 50 million per season, with the rest coming from customers -- and some of them are apparently paying late.

Making the situation worse, the PR value for Renault is currently "rather low", Schmidt explained. "Only criticism and bad press".

According to Brackley and Brixworth-based Mercedes' Niki Lauda, however, Renault might struggle to find a buyer, due to the restrictive working regulations in France.

"In France, they work 37 hours a week," he said. "In England it is 43."

grand Prix.com

[Kiril Varbanov]

Renault's F1 engine project for sale?

That doesn't make a lot of real world, business and marketing sense. No sense at all, in fact. Couple of months ago there was an offer from Nissan to buy some large percent stake and Renault refused it. They have alliance, remember?

The moral of the story: don't believe the 'F1 sources'. Renault will catch up.

[FW17]

More speculations, this one from Adam Cooper

Red Bull set to take over Viry and design new engine for 2016?
Rumours to the effect that Renault could be planning to sell its F1 engine department in Viry come at exactly the same time as suggestions from Helmut Marko that Red Bull wants to do its own thing on the power unit front – and it’s not hard to tie the two together.

Sources suggest that rather than attempt to start its own engine operation from scratch there are plans for Red Bull to take control of the Viry operation, although whether that would involve an outright purchase of the facility in the short term is not yet clear.

It’s worth noting that Dr Marko has been spending a lot of time at Viry recently. The suggestion is that Caterham boss Cyril Abiteboul, respected by Red Bull and previously a leading light at Viry as Deputy Managing Director of Renault Sport F1, might return to oversee any restructuring.

With Renault’s agreement Red Bull would introduce its own systems and key personnel in an attempt to improve the current power unit within the homologation rules for 2015. It would then use the Viry facilities to build a new unit to a Red Bull design for use in 2016 and beyond.

If that happens it could transform the future prospects of Red Bull Racing and help the team to hang on to the frustrated Sebastian Vettel.

On Sunday in Austria Christian Horner hinted at a restructuring at Viry: “There needs to be change at Renault, because it can’t continue like this. It’s not good for Renault, it’s not good for Red Bull. We need to work together as partners – there will not be another engine in the back of the car next year. We want to be competitive, we want to run at the front, and these kinds of issues can’t and shouldn’t happen.

“Something needs to happen, because whatever’s being done there is not working at the moment. It’s not our business, it’s not our responsibility, we’re the end user. It’s just frustrating that the product is just not working at the moment.”

As Horner noted, Red Bull is committed to using the current Renault engine next year. While the immediate priority will be to take full advantage of the FIA’s winter update window, the intention is to abandon the currently homologated engine and start afresh using all the knowledge gained by Renault and Red Bull in recent months, and from observations of the route Mercedes has taken.

A brand new power unit – perhaps badged as a Red Bull or Infiniti – could then be homologated for 2016. In theory it would be several steps ahead of what the regulations would allow Renault to update should the company simply continue with the current unit.

This new engine would not be designed by the team that produced the current Renault, but will instead be a product of the new Red Bull technology centre, which will be overseen by Adrian Newey. His old pal and Ilmor founder Mario Ilien is expected be part of the process, and it won’t be hard to draw on ex-Mercedes/Cosworth personnel in the Milton Keynes/Northampton area.

Mercedes and Ferrari clearly won’t be happy at the idea of Renault/Viry having this opportunity to in effect by-pass the homologation rules and enjoy a second chance build a V6 turbo power unit, even if is badged with a different name.

However, the key thing as far as the FIA is concerned is that Red Bull would own the IP of the new engine, and it would not be seen as a second attempt by Renault.

While this would be an expensive exercise, the drinks company is already paying two substantial power unit bills each year for RBR and Toro Rosso, and simply adding those figures together represents a good starting point for the budget required.

In addition sources say that Red Bull (and in particular Dr Marko) has been paying close attention lately to the future of Caterham, which is expected to announce a restructuring in the near future. The team is already a customer for the Red Bull gearbox, and it would be natural for the deal to be extended to cover a power unit package as well, which would provide further income to offset Red Bull’s costs. Caterham would be even more closely allied to Red Bull than it is now, as a ‘friendly’ third team.

With the more influential Lotus now expected to defect to Mercedes (see yesterday’s story) it would be much easier for Red Bull to have control of Viry. However, there could still be a fourth paying customer in the form of the new Romanian team, FRR.

The loss of Renault identity would suit Infiniti, which is keen to distance itself from the Renault name, which does not have the high-end associations it desires. Indeed Infiniti could help Red Bull to ultimately buy Viry or even, in a bit of intra company corporate business, take it over from Renault.

Some of the details are yet to emerge, but sources suggest that the scenario as explained above is a realistic one. Having said that when I asked Horner on Sunday if it was possible for Red Bull to do its own engine, he said: “It’s highly improbable. First of all we need to see what the plans of Renault are. Obviously a team like Red Bull isn’t short of choices, but we want to make sure that we’re competitive for the long term. Obviously designing and manufacturing our own engine currently isn’t part of our plan.”

It could be argued that he didn’t deny that someone else could manufacture it on Red Bull’s behalf. Indeed when I asked Christian if it would be possible under the rules for Viry to build a new engine for Red Bull, badged as something else, he simply smiled and said he believed it was…

[30yrF1Fan]

More speculations, this one from Adam Cooper

Red Bull set to take over Viry and design new engine for 2016?

If RB and Infiniti are going to make the investment it would make much more sense to do it in England. Why would they buy Viry that is located in France? This is just media hype... To win in F1 today you need full chassis and engine integration (Mercedes, Ferrari (not sure what their excuse is)), even Honda is setting up base ironically very near RB.
If RB and Infiniti are going to do it then do it in England near your factory.

All this bad press is hurting Renault and selling Viry would tarnish their image even more as they would really be perceived as total losers, so I don't buy this story.
If I was them I would demand that the current homologation be lifted this season or else threaten to leave as all this negativity is killing their brand. No manufacturer wants that and the FIA better listen.
How could they accept to homologate such new technology?? Simply ridiculous! I can guarantee you that if the shoe was on the other foot at Mercedes they would threaten to quit if they did not get their way.

Come on Renault, team up with di Montezemolo, he will get it done.

[gandharva]

If RB and Infiniti are going to make the investment it would make much more sense to do it in England. Why would they buy Viry that is located in France?

Who says it will stay in France after Infinity RBR buys it? There is a new RBR technology center built in England currently...

[cossie]

HOW MUCH OF INFINITY DOES RENAULT OWN? I KNOW THEY HAVE AN ALLIANCE. imo BUYING COSWORTH WOULD BE A BETTER WAY TO GO

[30yrF1Fan]

HOW MUCH OF INFINITY DOES RENAULT OWN? I KNOW THEY HAVE AN ALLIANCE. imo BUYING COSWORTH WOULD BE A BETTER WAY TO GO

Renault owns 44% of Nissan and Nissan has 15% of Renault. Ironically Daimler and Renault-Nissan each have around 3% of each other.

[djos]

Whats with the CAPSLOCK!!!!

No wonder you are at -7 votes!!

[Sasha]

Color me blind but isn't Renault and Nissan/Infinity the same company now run by one man?

So this rumor smells!