Ferrari look to the future in F1 which in fact started back in the day, in some ways. For what concern design relating to the next aerodynamic guises, the teams are not yet authorized to undertake any wind tunnel or CFD work until 1 January 2025. On the contrary, as regards the new engines, work is proceeding at a forced pace. It couldn’t be otherwise in the face of such an invasive change regarding the architecture of the second generation turbo-hybrid units which, as we know, will enter the scene from the world championship 2026.
There are two changes: the elimination of theMGU-H, complex and not very interesting for manufacturers in relation to potential use on road cars. On the other hand, the contribution of power generated byMGU-K. Kinetic energy recovery that will be tripled compared to the present. We will go from around 160 horsepower guaranteed by the sum of the current motor generators to around 470 horsepower from the 2.0 turbo-hybrid engines. The limit imposed by the flow of fuel in the internal combustion engine is not negligible and will not depend on the flow rate itself (today 100 kg per hour, editor’s note) but on the calorific value set at 3,000 MJ per hour.
To better understand the scope of the energy flows described above, it should be considered that the combustion of one liter of petrol generates approximately 34 MJ of energy. And that 1 kWh is equivalent to 3.6 MJ. Everything is bound by a constraint not at all trivial: the new engines will in fact have to guarantee the same performance of the current ones. The first simulations carried out by team they provided feedback unflattering, to the point of requiring a complete review of the concept from the F1 also from an aerodynamic point of view.
Scuderia Ferrari wants to be ready for this new Copernican revolution, after having spectacularly failed to make the transition from naturally aspirated engines to turbo-hybrid ones, exactly ten years ago. Like the other manufacturers, the historic Italian team also had to wait for the macroscopic guidelines announced by FIA in August of 2022, were formalized in an official technical specification, on the basis of which the prototyping phase could begin. However, a regulation that is constantly evolving, precisely in relation to feedback of the builders.
The latest draft even saw a sort of system appear overboostin style KERS, described in article 5.4.8 of the technical regulations. According to this paragraph, the various pilots of F1 they can reach maximum speeds of 345 km/h in standard operating conditions. At the same time they can therefore use a mode called “override”. We are referring to an approach that allows cars to F1 to have a further peak of battery power which, by extension, will provide a further boost to reach the speed of 355 km/h.
F1, Ferrari: the enormous challenge for Gualtieri’s team
After many years, the “engineers” of the historic team of Maranello they created an engine for the topboth in terms of performance that of reliability. We are referring to a clear performance recovery that began in 2020the year in which the engine of the prancing Horse paid a lot gap compared to Mercedesat the time benchmark of the category with regards to power unit. The design of the new beating heart of the next ones Ferrari has come to a crucial moment. This is what the technical manager of the power units claims Enrico Gualtieri, through an interview given to F1 during the Imola GP on May 17th.
“Without a doubt, this month we find ourselves at a crucial moment regarding the 2016 power unit project. We are increasingly shifting the focus towards this issue, obviously without forgetting that we are managing and operating in the current season. The new regulatory course on the engine certainly remains a great technical challenge and the changes that we have made and that we still have to make for the new regulation, present us with great efforts to make. So we are talking about a crucial moment, in that we are moving some of the efforts of the technical department in that direction. Hot days and months, in short…”
Ultimately, we add a rather crucial and at the same time interesting fact. An area where the Ferrari it could make a difference, in short. Let’s talk about the transition to fuels that will in fact be 100% sustainable. The stable located in via Abetone Inferiore 4Indeed, is paying particular attention to optimizing various combustion characteristics. All to try to adapt to the new blend of ethanol-based fuels. We just have to wait, therefore, with the knowledge that the redhead is on the ball and will undoubtedly be prepared.
Author: Roberto Cecere – @robertofunoat
Images: Scuderia Ferrari – F1Tv
