trinidefender wrote: ↑07 Apr 2021, 19:58
If I remember correctly 10kg is estimated to be about 0.1 seconds lap time but don't quote me on that.
Secondly and also something else to consider. If they design a car with a tank that can only hold 90kg of fuel Vs 110kg then there is a large packaging benefit.
Average fuel weight of gasoline is 0.71kg to 0.77kg a litre. Let's take the most conservative number of 0.77kg/L to make the packaging savings the smallest.
20kg/0.77kg/L = ~26 litres or 2600 cubic centimetres of space. Measure it out and you'll realise how much of a packaging advantage designing a car with a 90kg tank will have over a car with a 110kg tank.
Is it really a problem with limousine wheelbase? Everything in motorsport is a compromise. I would rather put in all the fuel, and design the car that way. It gives you a better race car than if you only just fuel. It gives you more options, particularly late race safety cars while others are saving fuel, you're on fresh tires with plenty of fuel to burn.
I would rather have options at the expense of a little performance, I as a driver would instantly say I can make the difference. I'll take a car that qualifies 3rd but has race winning pace, vs a car that can qualify at the front but can't react to changes.
That's just a personal preference, I cannot speak for anyone else.