Will car reliability an issue in 2014?

Will car reliability an issue in 2014?

Author
Discussion

TheCarMadDad

Original Poster:

317 posts

129 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Hi Guys

Just want to get everyone else's opinion on this...

With the 2014 F1 cars relying so heavily on hybrid type systems for performance, I'm concerned that the battle for the championship will be based purely on team reliability instead of driver skill. All it will take is a glitch in one of the electrical or regen systems and the cars won't be running at full performance.

Do you think reliability will play a part in shaping F1 this season?

Also, do you think running out of fuel will be an issue with the new race limit?

Comments below....

Likes Fast Cars

2,884 posts

171 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

At least it will spice up the race for the WDC and Constructors and will be good to see the results mixed up a bit, even if only for the first 10 races.
And let's hope Fingers is the main beneficiary of most of the unreliability (sorry to any SV fans out there, but 4 on the trot is getting a little tiresome).

Lincsblokey

3,175 posts

161 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
I think all the drivers, TP's an engine manufacturers have all said yes to those questions. Didn't Horner say he would be surprised if 11 cars finish in Melbourne?

Likes Fast Cars

2,884 posts

171 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Lincsblokey said:
I think all the drivers, TP's an engine manufacturers have all said yes to those questions. Didn't Horner say he would be surprised if 11 cars finish in Melbourne?
So Horner is already lining up his excuses, just in case....

F1GTRUeno

6,512 posts

224 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
I really hope so.

It's really, really boring when all the cars finish and there are no engine blow ups or mechanical issues.

Just adds to the procession.

TheCarMadDad

Original Poster:

317 posts

129 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
I personally think there have been too many changes put in place too quickly.

On a selfish note, I really hope SV crashes out with reliability issues at the British GP right where i'll be sitting/standing, I'll get some great shots biggrinbiggrin

Likes Fast Cars

2,884 posts

171 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for that info, a lot of good technical stuff in there. Given some of the KERS failures we've seen in recent seasons, and add the increased complexity of the 2014 engine format (added recovery systems, etc.), it creates a lot of potential unpredictability.

If some of these add-ons fail, more fuel consumption.
If a driver is on a real charge and running at maximum power levels - and bearing in mind the 100 kg / hour flow rate (and it's per hour, so factor in safety cars, etc...) - more fuel consumption. then what?

I wonder how many cars will run out of fuel?

What happens when they hit the limit of 100kg of fuel consumption / hour? ...... Not really sure of the consequences here....

Likes Fast Cars

2,884 posts

171 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
TheCarMadDad said:
I personally think there have been too many changes put in place too quickly.

On a selfish note, I really hope SV crashes out with reliability issues at the British GP right where i'll be sitting/standing, I'll get some great shots biggrinbiggrin
+1

Lincsblokey

3,175 posts

161 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Likes Fast Cars said:
Thanks for that info, a lot of good technical stuff in there. Given some of the KERS failures we've seen in recent seasons, and add the increased complexity of the 2014 engine format (added recovery systems, etc.), it creates a lot of potential unpredictability.

If some of these add-ons fail, more fuel consumption.
If a driver is on a real charge and running at maximum power levels - and bearing in mind the 100 kg / hour flow rate (and it's per hour, so factor in safety cars, etc...) - more fuel consumption. then what?

I wonder how many cars will run out of fuel?

What happens when they hit the limit of 100kg of fuel consumption / hour? ...... Not really sure of the consequences here....


I bet Mark Webber is happy he is out of it, given the amount of failures his KERS had with a well tested set up it makes you think how he would have got on.

It does seem to me, however, that Red Bull only just manage to keep the car on the reliable side, pushing design to its absolute limit, whereas some other er on the side of caution.

Scuffers

20,887 posts

280 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Likes Fast Cars said:
Thanks for that info, a lot of good technical stuff in there. Given some of the KERS failures we've seen in recent seasons, and add the increased complexity of the 2014 engine format (added recovery systems, etc.), it creates a lot of potential unpredictability.

If some of these add-ons fail, more fuel consumption.
If a driver is on a real charge and running at maximum power levels - and bearing in mind the 100 kg / hour flow rate (and it's per hour, so factor in safety cars, etc...) - more fuel consumption. then what?

I wonder how many cars will run out of fuel?

What happens when they hit the limit of 100kg of fuel consumption / hour? ...... Not really sure of the consequences here....
The 100kg/hour is a flow restriction, this is a measured parameter to the fia ecu's logging, exceed it at any point and your in trouble.

Its not measured as an average, but a maximum.

TheCarMadDad

Original Poster:

317 posts

129 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Lincsblokey said:
It does seem to me, however, that Red Bull only just manage to keep the car on the reliable side, pushing design to its absolute limit, whereas some other er on the side of caution.
Thats Red Bull all over though... They try to push the boundaries with everything, especially extreme sports. Some of the stuff on there YouTube channel is crazy!

BoRED S2upid

20,176 posts

246 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Yes. If I don't see some engines going bang I won't be happy. Cooling will be a bit issue.

PartridgeWagon

190 posts

218 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
There's an interesting article in this month's F1 racing mag stating that an energy recovery system failure will result in a 40% reduction in power and lap times down by ~8 secs. The turbos will be running at 125,000rpm on a limited number of engines (8 for the season), so tiny factors such as compromised bearings/oil/cooling etc would lead to a retirement.

Feedback from the early runs in the 2014 spec simulator sounded interesting: Caterham's test driver (Rossi) said that there was wheelspin up to fourth gear when using full revs and short-shifting to maintain traction was not possible due to the amount of low-down torque. He basically said it was like driving a formula car in the wet. Should be interesting to see what the reality is.

Scuffers

20,887 posts

280 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Sorry, but that just sounds like rubbish to me?

What increase of torque (at the types)?


TheCarMadDad

Original Poster:

317 posts

129 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Turbo spinning @ 125,000RPM redface

That's incredible!

bristolracer

5,610 posts

155 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Within 3 races it will all be back to "as you were"

Please please F1 gods prove me wrong, i so want to see some racing


MissChief

7,220 posts

174 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
It will take longer than that but I reckon most failures and grid penalties will be done and dusted by halfway through the season with the odd one coming at Monza or Silverstone.

Russ35

2,545 posts

245 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
TheCarMadDad said:
I personally think there have been too many changes put in place too quickly.

On a selfish note, I really hope SV crashes out with reliability issues at the British GP right where i'll be sitting/standing, I'll get some great shots biggrinbiggrin
Just don't go to the loo when it happens, like with me. Just getting back to the grand stand as an almighty roar goes up. Nearly broke my neck running up the steps back to our seats (front row). Luckily my brother was on camera duty





PartridgeWagon

190 posts

218 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
Scuffers said:
Sorry, but that just sounds like rubbish to me?

What increase of torque (at the types)?
I can only presume that going for another gear early does little to aid traction because of the way in which batteries deliver power - along with that delivered by the turbocharged engine (it may be the same overall power/torque at the wheels as last year but you get more of it lower in the rev range).

If what Rossi did find in the sim was 'rubbish' compared to the reality of the new car, Caterham had better hurry up and re-write the software after the first test.

Edited by PartridgeWagon on Sunday 26th January 22:30


Edited by PartridgeWagon on Sunday 26th January 22:31

dr_gn

16,368 posts

190 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
quotequote all
TheCarMadDad said:
Turbo spinning @ 125,000RPM redface

That's incredible!
They've always spun at those kind of rpm's, even on road car engines from the '80's.