Rajan Wilcox
Formula 1 racing has seen many changes since its inception in 1950, with refuelling strategies being one of the most notable. In the past, refuelling during races was a common practice, but safety concerns, cost-cutting, and rule changes led to its ban in 2010. With the risk of fires during refuelling, teams are now required to start races with a full tank of fuel, and strategies have shifted to focus on fuel management and car performance with heavier loads. While refuelling is no longer a part of Formula 1 races, it is still common in other motorsports, such as IndyCar and NASCAR. Pre-season testing and innovative techniques, such as spraying paint on cars, are used to collect data and judge car performance, giving teams an edge as they prepare for the upcoming season.
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What You'll Learn
- Fuel is no longer sprayed on F1 cars during races, as refuelling during races has been banned since 2010
- Before the ban, refuelling was a strategy used to run lighter cars, hopefully making them faster than competitors
- Despite the ban, fuel is still sprayed during pre-season testing, where teams use sandbagging and glory runs to collect data and judge performance
- During refuelling, fuel is pressurized and chilled to allow a faster flow rate, with a maximum of 12.1 litres per second
- Refuelling is still common practice in other motorsports like IndyCar, NASCAR, and the World Endurance Championships due to different race styles
Fuel is no longer sprayed on F1 cars during races, as refuelling during races has been banned since 2010
The fuel system in an F1 car is a critical component that bridges the responsibilities of the chassis and engine teams. The chassis team designs and operates the fuel cell, lift pumps, and collector, while the engine team oversees the main fuel pump, filters, and injectors. The engine's fuel system recovers fuel from the fuel tank and delivers it to the engine, where precise injection and ignition processes occur to generate torque.
The fuel cell (tank) is made of military-grade ballistics material, holding approximately 160 kg or 230 liters of fuel. The hoses connecting the tank to the engine are designed with safety measures to prevent fuel leakage in the event of an accident, addressing the fire risks observed in the 1970s. The fuel sloshes around the tank due to lateral and longitudinal g-forces, making fuel recovery challenging, especially at low levels.
F1 fuel regulations have evolved significantly since 1996, with the FIA mandating that fuel must meet the Euro 95 standard, equivalent to the fuel used in road cars. While F1 fuel shares the same compounds as commercial fuel, each manufacturer optimizes the fuel mix for their respective teams, resulting in improved performance.
In recent years, F1 has embraced sustainability and efficiency. The introduction of fuel-flow meters monitored by the FIA ensures a maximum fuel consumption rate of 100 kg per hour. The push for sustainability is evident in the development of 'E10' fuel, a blend of 90% fuel and 10% renewable ethanol, with plans to achieve 100% sustainable fuel by 2026.
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Before the ban, refuelling was a strategy used to run lighter cars, hopefully making them faster than competitors
Before the ban, refuelling was a strategy used to run lighter cars, hopefully making them faster than their competitors. The fuel tanks in Formula 1 cars have a capacity of 22 litres, and the weight of the fuel in the tank can significantly impact the car's performance. Teams would strategically decide on the amount of fuel to carry on board, as a heavier car would cost more lap time. While rules mandate a maximum weight of fuel for F1 cars, MotoGP teams can adjust the volume of fuel in the tank.
To prevent the car from running out of fuel during a race, engineers calculate fuel consumption per lap during winter testing, refining their calculations for each race based on car modifications and race conditions. The car is fuelled based on these calculations, aiming to finish the race with the least amount of extra weight.
The fuel system in an F1 car is designed to recover fuel from the tank and regulate pressure using a mechanical pump. The fuel is then delivered to the injectors at the correct pressure, ensuring accurate metering of the injected quantity. The fuel is sprayed into the trumpets to mix with air before entering the cylinder, where it is ignited to generate torque.
The fuel used in F1 cars has been heavily regulated since 1996, requiring it to meet the Euro 95 standard and contain only compounds found in commercial pump fuel. While the chemicals used are the same, the final product is highly optimised for each team's engine, resulting in fuel tailored for peak performance.
In recent years, there has been a push towards fuel efficiency and sustainability in F1. The sport is committed to using 100% sustainable fuels by 2026, with the introduction of E10 fuel in 2022, a blend of 90% fuel and 10% renewable ethanol.
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Despite the ban, fuel is still sprayed during pre-season testing, where teams use sandbagging and glory runs to collect data and judge performance
Formula 1 cars are sprayed with a mixture of fluorescent paint powder and light oil, usually paraffin, during pre-season testing. This is known as flow-vis paint. The paint is used to assess how air is moving over the car, as teams monitor airflow patterns by observing how the oil evaporates and the paint dries, providing a clear visual of the aerodynamics. This is done during pre-season testing, where teams use sandbagging and glory runs to collect data and judge performance.
Sandbagging is a practice used by teams to deliberately hide their true potential. They may run with a heavy fuel load or drive with a less powerful engine setting. This is done to avoid scrutiny on trick parts or to lull the opposition into a false sense of security. Teams may also sandbag to avoid closer scrutiny on their car's actual performance.
Glory runs are the opposite of sandbagging. It is when a driver attempts to set the quickest lap possible with a minimal amount of fuel in the car and the softest tyres. Glory runs are often done for fun and to boost morale, but they can also be used to gain attention, reinforce the driver's morale, or even find sponsors.
While fuel is heavily regulated by the FIA, it is still crucial to a team's performance. The fuel used in an F1 car is a minimum of 87 octane and must be similar to what can be purchased at the pump for a road car. However, the final product made for each Formula 1 team is highly optimized for peak performance by each manufacturer.
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During refuelling, fuel is pressurized and chilled to allow a faster flow rate, with a maximum of 12.1 litres per second
Formula 1 cars are fuelled by a highly optimised blend of compounds that are essentially the same as those found in commercial pump fuel. The fuel is not a high-octane concoction, as is commonly misconceived, but rather a minimum of 87 octane, in line with road car fuel standards.
The fuel system is a critical component of an F1 car, tasked with delivering fuel from the tank to the engine, where it is sprayed into the trumpets to mix with air before entering the cylinder. Here, the fuel-air mixture is ignited to generate torque, powering the car. To ensure the engine performs optimally, the fuel must be delivered to the injectors at the correct pressure, allowing for precise metering of the injected quantity.
During refuelling, the fuel is pressurized and chilled to facilitate a faster flow rate, with a maximum flow rate of 12.1 litres per second. This rapid refuelling is crucial to getting the car back on the track as quickly as possible. The fuel tanks have a capacity of 22 litres, and teams strategically decide how much fuel to carry, as a full tank can weigh down the car, impacting lap times.
F1 regulations have evolved to prioritize fuel efficiency, sustainability, and safety. Since 2014, F1 cars have been mandated with fuel-flow meters to ensure fuel consumption does not exceed 100kg per hour, with the data being monitored by the FIA. Additionally, the injection pressure is limited to a maximum of 100 bar, and each cylinder is restricted to a single injector positioned in the inlet tract. These regulations have prohibited the use of ultra-high-pressure direct injection systems, contributing to safer refuelling practices.
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Refuelling is still common practice in other motorsports like IndyCar, NASCAR, and the World Endurance Championships due to different race styles
Formula 1 cars are fuelled ahead of a race to ensure they can finish the race. The practice of refuelling during a race has been banned since 2010 due to safety concerns and costs. Over the years, there have been several incidents of fuel spillage and fires during refuelling.
On the other hand, refuelling is still common practice in other motorsports like IndyCar, NASCAR, and the World Endurance Championships. The race styles in these series differ from Formula 1, and the rules and regulations allow for refuelling during pit stops.
In IndyCar, for example, the premier open-wheel racing series in the United States, refuelling is still allowed. While some people argue that IndyCar should get rid of refuelling to make pit stops safer, others believe that the current refuelling practices are as safe as they can be.
NASCAR, another popular motorsport in the United States, is also planning to adopt regenerative braking and move towards hybrid technology. This may impact their refuelling strategies, but for now, refuelling is still a common practice.
The World Endurance Championship previously had a per-lap fuel allocation limit, but since 2014, an Equivalence of Technology has been implemented to level out performances between hybrid and non-hybrid cars. This means that fuel allocations are now applied per circuit, with different maximums for petrol and hybrid cars.
The different race formats and regulations in IndyCar, NASCAR, and the World Endurance Championships allow for refuelling during the race, making it a common practice in these motorsports.
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