F1 Report: Formula One considering 1.5-liter turbo engines

[PanterroR]

It's been 21 years since a turbocharger found its way onto a Formula One racer. In 1989, the FIA banned forced-induction due to the ridiculous power and speed they were generating. For better or worse, things haven't been the same since, but if a report from Pitpass is to be believed, we may see the reign of the turbo return once again.

The site is claiming that the FIA is seriously considering bringing a new turbocharged 1.5-liter engine to F1, but don't expect to see early '80s power from these machines. The four-cylinder engine is being considered for one reason alone – to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

So we won't see over 1,000 horsepower from the 2011 grid, but to make up for the dip in grunt, Pitpass says the FIA is also considering allowing KERS to return. While we're sure the sanctioning body is keen to get the eco-minded off its back, odds are the FIA wouldn't mind spicing up the racing a bit, either. While we were promised heart-stopping action from the 2010 season, so far the racing has been much of the same. Here's hoping...


Source: Report: Formula One considering 1.5-liter turbo engines - Autoblog


YES, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Centurion]

This would be truly awesome. Turbo charged cars back in F1? Just wow.

 

[bmer]

1.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo engines would probably make VW Group join the F1 under one of its brands.

 

[Human]

So glad BMW left the F1 Circus

Giving it some thought....they can enter F1 Mini

 

[siko]

It's all good if they don't keep the current stupid engine limiters... would be nice to see 1000+ hp race engines!

 

[bmwownage]

1.5L for the "pinnacle of motorsports"..

 

[Wolfgang]

In a "couple of years", it might be fuel cells.

Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation

 

[Imhotep Evil]

I would prefer turbo-supercharged engines kinda a like the Lancia Delta S4 Group B rally car.

 

[Sunny]

Don't get excited about 1000+ hp engines. Unlike the previous gen of turbo engines, this time around I am sure FIA will keep a tight lease on boost and power.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Don't get excited about 1000+ hp engines. Unlike the previous gen of turbo engines, this time around I am sure FIA will keep a tight lease on boost and power.

Cars don't need 1000 hp to be just as fast, or faster, reducing the drag and weight would have the same effect.
The turbos did seem exciting but really in racetrim they had at best ~800 hp and a vastly inferior aero efficiency once the ground effects were banned. The power of the turbos grew as a result of loss of aero efficiency.

 

[Giannis]

I would prefer turbo-supercharged engines kinda a like the Lancia Delta S4 Group B rally car.

Actually, it would be better to replace F1 with Group B... This was tons more fun...

 

[Sunny]

Cars don't need 1000 hp to be just as fast, or faster, reducing the drag and weight would have the same effect.
The turbos did seem exciting but really in racetrim they had at best ~800 hp and a vastly inferior aero efficiency once the ground effects were banned. The power of the turbos grew as a result of loss of aero efficiency.

Are you implying the manufacturer's decided to make the turbos more powerful only to compensate for loss of aero? And if they didn't loose the aero, they wouldn't have made the turbo's more powerful. I don't agree with that premise. In racing, especially in F1 there is nothing like too powerful. The manufacturer's would extract every last HP they can reliably extract under given rules (maybe even a little outside them).

 

[siko]

Cars don't need 1000 hp to be just as fast, or faster, reducing the drag and weight would have the same effect.
The turbos did seem exciting but really in racetrim they had at best ~800 hp and a vastly inferior aero efficiency once the ground effects were banned. The power of the turbos grew as a result of loss of aero efficiency.

I know race version were below 1000... but that was 20 years ago, pretty sure we can cook up something higher now.

And i totally agree about aero change being more significant... but since the thread was about engines, my comments were confined to that only.

 

[Mr Robert]

Yay! 19,500 rpm!
...or will the killjoys limit it to 4,500 in the new, diesel style F1?

 

[Imhotep Evil]

I know race version were below 1000... but that was 20 years ago, pretty sure we can cook up something higher now.

And i totally agree about aero change being more significant... but since the thread was about engines, my comments were confined to that only.

The problem was NOT how much HP they can make, it was about safety. Higher horsepower came with higher drag and higher weight rules so as to keep the cars from going too fast.

 

[Gullwing]

Yeah more cost saving by having them design a new engine

If they do go this route fine, just limit the restrictions to 4 cylinder, 1.5 liters, number/size of turbos and let them do what they want. Don't limit RPM, so what if it blows after two hours, don't require X mpg, so what if it gets .1 mpg or 8 mpg it is their choice especially if they can't refuel.

 

[Remy Zero]

I'll genuinely welcome this idea, but i don't see it happening.

Patrick Head once said that in his entire career in F1, the V10 to V8 engine change was definitely the most expensive thing he's witnessed in F1.

I do hope they'll go for it. This nonsense engine freeze, V8 restricted RPMs are the core cause for boring races.

 

[Centurion]

1.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo engines would probably make VW Group join the F1 under one of its brands.

Yes. They have expressed interest. However there will need to be some sort of engine freeze for them to engine as turbo chargers opens up a pandoras box for arms race in development. A very expensive arms race.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Yes. They have expressed interest. However there will need to be some sort of engine freeze for them to engine as turbo chargers opens up a pandoras box for arms race in development. A very expensive arms race.

They'll likely have a boost limit (just like in the 80s) and/or a fuel flow control limit.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Yeah more cost saving by having them design a new engine

If they do go this route fine, just limit the restrictions to 4 cylinder, 1.5 liters, number/size of turbos and let them do what they want. Don't limit RPM, so what if it blows after two hours, don't require X mpg, so what if it gets .1 mpg or 8 mpg it is their choice especially if they can't refuel.

So what else is new ?!
At least the engines will - hopefully - get some torque and driveabilty.

4 cylinders engines reving at 20000 rpms will not be the same as a V10.