planetf1.com

Does anyone know the current engine situation?

I think Ferrari were in the best state last time I read about it but is it likely to be a factor at all?

Edit: I'm referring to the limit of 8 engines on the season. I think Ferrari have the freshest engines with RB slightly less and Mclaren the oldest

Renault is good on consumption, so they are running 10kgs lighter than everybody else at the start of the race. Which equates to a lot of lap time. It might be the case the Ferrari is fuel efficient too and would help explain why there race pace is so much better than qualifying.

Mercedes I believe was considered the most powerful last year and I believe that holds and still edges for best around powerplant.

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My post was kind of vague sorry, I was interested to know if people thought that the limit of 8 engines would have any effect on the WDC this year

here take a look...

http://www.vivaf1.com/reliability.php

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From the title contenders point of view its not that much of an issue. But RedBull and Vettel have to pray they do not hit reliability issues. But as far as number of engines left, it is a not a big issue for either of the top runners.
Alonso does have 2 engines (one with almost no running, other with little compared to others ) with very little mileage on them which in theory can mean they can really crank up the engine in the 2 remaining races. How much of an advantage that will be is something only they will know. It will be very minute advantage as these engines these days lose less than 5HP in their life cycle.

Interesting that alonso has got almost a fresh engine for interlagos thanks to that crash at spa.That could be a big advantage because there is usually a bit of power loss due to the high altitude.
Vettel is also a bit out of sync with the other renault guys.I am surprised they chose not to use a 9 th engine at abu dhabi.

It's not a game changer. I wouldn't be surprised if RBR is more worried about an alternator failure than an engine giving out.

It could be because they had given up on a good result at Abu Dhabi after Vettel's penalty and decided that it was not worth the risk of wasting a fresh engine. In other words, they wanted the best possible choice for the remaming 2 races. To that end, Vettel's fightback and podium finish would be a bonus in the WDC race.

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Vettel / Raikkonen / Button

There is no wasting of engine.Vettel now has to race the same engine in U.S.A that he has used in India and Abu Dhabi . Instead he could have changed it in Abu Dhabi and had a fresher engine for the next race and also more options for brazil.Keep in mind that once an engine is used they have to use it continously.Only in the final race can they go back to a previous engine.

I did not know that. I thought that each driver was obliged to use an engine in at least 2 races and that was it.

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Vettel / Raikkonen / Button

i think they can use the 8 engines in any combination / order of races, not that an engine has to do at least **
they could put a new one in at a race, then the next event, use another new one or change for an old one etcc..

Thanks for that. Based on that information, do we know the most races any of the leading teams have effectively used an engine in this season?

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Vettel / Raikkonen / Button

No they don't. They have 8 engines which they can use in any order that they wish. It's not like gearboxes which have to run 5 consecutive races before you can replace it.

I didn't know that .. thanks for the clarification.

Yup thanks for that clarification.But i still think redbull should have replaced the engine.

It won't be a factor. Alonso negotiated the last 6 races of the season in 2010 with just 2 race engines.

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Okay. Just so that I understand this properly, let us assume that they had replaced it in Abu Dhabi and used a 9th engine. That would have incurred a 10-place grid penalty if I am not mistaken but since Vettel was already as far behind as he could go, it would not have changed his position. But when it came to the next race - Austin - would a further penalty be imposed or would Vettel have been free to qualify on merit?

If it is the latter answer, then I know where you are coming from.

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Vettel / Raikkonen / Button

I just read the rules again and there would be no penalty for the next race.

So why did they not opt for Engine number 9 if it was essentially a no loss situation?

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Can it be that although RBR have used their 8 engines, one or more of those are considered to be in good enough condition to use in Austin? If they are allowed to use their 8 in any order they like, that might be the answer.

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Vettel / Raikkonen / Button

Because there was nothing wrong with the engine, and the Abu Dhabi race might have been the last race for that particular engine.

In this current age of Formula 1. Engine's do not play a significant part in the difference in performance between teams. Take the Renault Engine teams. You have RB leading the way, and Caterham struggling to break out of the Backmarker group. They both have a renault engine in it, so it goes to show Aero is still king.

These engine's loose very little performance over their life cycle, you don't even notice if one engine is at the end of its cycle and if one is just at the start. There's nothing to worry about concerning engine life, Alonso had to do the final fly away's and abit more on only 2 engines in 2010 after loosing one in Malaysia.

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Forza Fernando !

We don't tend to hear much about conserving fuel, only conserving tyres. Could a driver easy on the gas tank not be even more important than a driver who is easy on the tyres?

Perhaps all drivers use about the same amount of fuel?

Is this still true? I'm not so sure.

It may be the same thing. If your spinning up the rears your using more gas than you should.

I believe (not sure though!!) the rule is that once you go on to the 9th engine, u can't use any of the previous 8 engines for the rest of the season. If vettel had taken the 9th engine in Abu dhabi, he would've been forced to use that engine for USA and brazil as well. If it goes bang or needs replacement, he would have to go to engine no 10 along with a 10 spot grid penalty.

Also, as I mentioned before, there may well be one or two engines out of the 8 that have been used just once. In that case it makes sense not using the 9th engine at Abu Dhabi.

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Vettel / Raikkonen / Button

No, the rule is if you change an engine under parc ferme rules (once quali has started till after the end of the race) then that engine is never to be used again.

Looking at the graph, Vettel's engine had only completed India (assuming it was the same one), so they would in effect be chucking out an engine that had only been used for 33% of it's expected life.

Also, what's not to say the FIA might have not given permission to change the engine if it didn't have a problem... Or that they might have said change it and you'll get a place place penalty in Austin...

They are allowed to use a replaced engine in the final race.