Granted, I thought at first that I will not learn much gasoline can. But that was a fallacy.
One year I had to throw together with other bloggers and journalists from around the world the opportunity to unite Bliick behind the scenes. It was Shell, as it should be different for gasoline, and more specifically to the "VPower", which is also used in Formula One. It does so in principle, particularly since the FIA has banned the fuel-adulteration little concerned about this area. Actually requires the FIA that 99% of the components that are also found in the normal gasoline must be used in F1. With the remaining 1% can then play it. One can not help wondering: Is it worth it? To fumble around 1%? Is it possible to achieve so what? If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said clearly that is not worth that. Meanwhile, I'm thinking very differently about it. And if you look at the effort by not only the bride Shell F1 fuel, then you come to a different response.
I will not again go through the various stages, but there were some articles, but I have a short list:
First The fuel is mixed from different components. That happens sometimes, in a refinery near Manchester. In the laboratory, many people work with doctorates because concoct new mixing ratios. And all day, 5 days a week.
Second The proposed compounds are produced in small margins and sent to Ferrari. Their main focus is really on two things: less consumption, more power. Ferrari tests the mixtures extensively on their own engine test stands. Only if the desired result there will be to decide what made the mix more.
Third Shell produces not only a mixture. There are different blends for different racetracks. The variables for this are relatively large extent. This ranges from the outside temperature on the track opposite characteristics, and other things. So a lot of variables. The mixtures are usually prepared in principle before the Sason and during the year only slightly modified.
4th Most tests are done on the bench, not in testing.
5th Made the grades of gasoline in small quantities and are delivered to Ferrari.
6th But the work is not over. Shell has a Laboor in every race at the track. This means that if the race permanently installed in one of two trucks that are directly behind the box and is managed in the entire technology. Overseas you have a small container that is also with the whole stuff of Formula One geschippert the world.
7th The laboratory has a variety of tasks, mainly deals with the gasoline and oil. The FIA has samples of the gasoline in our own laboratories and reviewed regularly at the track, see if there are no deviations. Shell also checks itself, so there are no issues or problems you may doubt the result of the FIA to check himself /. It can be taken before and after each use of the car samples, so every day.
8th With the engine oil, it is somewhat more complicated. The FIA leaving manufacturers free rein here, you can do more or less what you want. The thing is, therefore, also in terms of development, much more complicated, especially in the engine so the oil has also a large effect on the cooling. Shell takes before and after each sample application and see exactly how to break down the individual components themselves. If you find too many levels of certain metals, which can indicate problems with the engine, so would the Ferrari experts advise you to change the engine.
9th There are a number of Shell employees who work directly with Ferrari on the spot. This applies to the engines, the chemical, as well as the management level. The teeth of both groups is far reaching.
10th The cooperation also includes the development of the new engine to be used from 2013. The runs already on the bench, but Shell was involved in the construction. You promise yourself that you can achieve a higher efficiency of the engine.
The cost to operate the two companies is enormous. And it is not the only teams that do that. Renault Elf with a technology partner with Petronas Mercedes, McLaren at least in terms of oil "Mobil 1".
Of course no one says how much the co-tenth actually brings. In a test in the summer poured it into a normal VPower 2009er Ferrari and compared the lap times. Which was, according to Ferrari and Shell, only 1 second behind the one that was driven by F1 fuel. It may, in any case, one can already see that the research will help. In qualifying, in which it sometimes goes to a fraction of a tenth or hundredths, in which it often can be crucial to how to get into the race, how many points it takes so on, every little thing can be crucial. The cost is expected to be in double digits each year, but if you end the world title in hand, you think of the cost not to.
Shell has not only the marketing effect as a reward. At the same time one uses the findings of Ferrari, in turn, to improve their own products. How big is the knowledge of how much you can transport them into the normal traffic is not so clear. What is certain is that the points "performance improvement" and "consumption" pretty high on the agenda are available from Shell. Allow to what extent the very specialized F1 engine transmission, is another question that I can not judge.
It is amazing already, how much money Shell and Ferrari stuck in the whole thing. If the teams complain about having to spend too much money, and when you consider that the fuel / oil is only a small part in the development of Formula One, you can imagine why everything is so expensive. Whether that makes much more sense? Hard to say, on the one hand it is a bit absurd, on the other hand also quite fascinating. The work, which many experts and people who are in the development of such "little things" is quite remarkable.
I have certainly learned a lot and go with much more background knowledge into the new season. Of these, hopefully I can give some in the past year to the next reader.
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