Ask an F1 Engineer anything

Ask an F1 Engineer anything

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Megaflow

9,405 posts

225 months

Sunday 4th April 2021
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Yep, it has all been under the control of F1 for some time now, I can’t remember when. I knew about it already, but I had an interesting chat with a guy removing the mics at Monza in 2019 which is how I learnt about the two weeks to set up and alternative sets, etc. It is a mind bending logistical excercise.

Ian974

2,939 posts

199 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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Even in various smaller championships it's surprising just how much the pit buildings are transformed over a day or two, and to an extent it can look like a disproportionate amount of work for what at the end of the day ends up being a couple hours or so of racing!

Slightly off topic but if the background infrastructure type stuff is interesting, a lot of the very big music tour setups are worth an eyeball as well. The stages that the likes of AC/DC, Rammstein etc get put together for what again ends up being a couple hours entertainment is incredible, there are various timelapse videos of these things being built on YouTube.

talksthetorque

10,815 posts

135 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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Ian974 said:
Even in various smaller championships it's surprising just how much the pit buildings are transformed over a day or two, and to an extent it can look like a disproportionate amount of work for what at the end of the day ends up being a couple hours or so of racing!

Slightly off topic but if the background infrastructure type stuff is interesting, a lot of the very big music tour setups are worth an eyeball as well. The stages that the likes of AC/DC, Rammstein etc get put together for what again ends up being a couple hours entertainment is incredible, there are various timelapse videos of these things being built on YouTube.
I work in an exhibition related industry and have been there for the builds ( up to a week) and the tear downs (as fast as is humanly possible) and know that most of the branding backgrounds can get thrown, as it's cheaper to rent hardware l( framework)locally, and print new signage at the next show than transport it as the likelihood of damage is high. But when you're talking cameras and hardware like that it's a different ball game.....

Unrelated - As someone asked Gary Anderson on a recent podcast:

Has anything ( like a bit of aero gubbins) fell off a car during a race and given a performance improvement?

105.4

4,081 posts

71 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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Apologies if this question has already been asked, and if my question is a stupid one, but it’s something I was thinking of last night.

What’s the difference between road car oil and F1 oil?
Do F1 cars run oil filters?
How often does the oil get changed? After every session?
Is the oil used during the race different from the oil used during practice & qualifying ?

Ian974

2,939 posts

199 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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Restarting the engines would be an interesting one. As a completely uneducated guess I'm assuming the hybrid kit is capable of firing up the ICE if required?
For endurance stuff for example the LMP hybrids seem to run out of the pit box on electric power then the motor only kicks in once it's up to speed

Dashnine

1,302 posts

50 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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Ian974 said:
Restarting the engines would be an interesting one. As a completely uneducated guess I'm assuming the hybrid kit is capable of firing up the ICE if required?
For endurance stuff for example the LMP hybrids seem to run out of the pit box on electric power then the motor only kicks in once it's up to speed
Correct regarding hybrids starts, but I think the Mercedes engines didn’t have the capability until last / this season.

It’s in the Le Mans / endurance rules to only run on electric in the pits.

Dashnine

1,302 posts

50 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
How do you follow F1, Sky, C4, online, printed media? Are you overseas? Just puzzled at some of your questions which most fans watching / reading about F1 would know the answers.

Or are you just trolling for attention?

Abbott

2,386 posts

203 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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What year did you start in F1 and how did you get into it and for which team?

C2Red

3,983 posts

253 months

Tuesday 6th April 2021
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105.4 said:
Apologies if this question has already been asked, and if my question is a stupid one, but it’s something I was thinking of last night.

What’s the difference between road car oil and F1 oil?
Do F1 cars run oil filters?
How often does the oil get changed? After every session?
Is the oil used during the race different from the oil used during practice & qualifying ?
Engineering explained had an interesting YouTube video on this, not overly deep, but interesting nonetheless

105.4

4,081 posts

71 months

Tuesday 6th April 2021
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C2Red said:
Engineering explained had an interesting YouTube video on this, not overly deep, but interesting nonetheless
Thanks C2 thumbup I’ll take a look for that vid.

I remember the ‘fuel wars’ of the early 90’s, but I can’t ever remember lubricants being mentioned in old editions of Autosport or Motorsport News.

markcoznottz

7,155 posts

224 months

Thursday 8th April 2021
quotequote all
105.4 said:
Apologies if this question has already been asked, and if my question is a stupid one, but it’s something I was thinking of last night.

What’s the difference between road car oil and F1 oil?
Do F1 cars run oil filters?
How often does the oil get changed? After every session?
Is the oil used during the race different from the oil used during practice & qualifying ?
The oil doubles as race fuel/ petrol 😉, or at least it used to a few seasons back.

Sanganchao

8 posts

6 months

Thursday 5th October 2023
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Do some engineers and mechanics miss the grid girls?

robinessex

11,057 posts

181 months

Thursday 5th October 2023
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Sanganchao said:
Do some engineers and mechanics miss the grid girls?
They must do, I haven't seen any run over lately. laugh

the-norseman

12,404 posts

171 months

Friday 6th October 2023
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This question is specifically at RBR employees as I live in MK. The large company I work for has an unwritten rule that if your going out for a few drinks/night out dont wear work gear or stuff with the logo on.

Everytime I pop into MK centre for a few (too many), there are RBR staff dressed head to toe in their stuff on the ale.

When I've been out in Maranello, the Ferrari staff dont go into bars drinking in uniform.

Edited by the-norseman on Friday 6th October 07:35

andburg

7,286 posts

169 months

Friday 6th October 2023
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the-norseman said:
This question is specifically at RBR employees as I live in MK. The large company I work for has an unwritten rule that if your going out for a few drinks/night out dont wear work gear or stuff with the logo on.

Everytime I pop into MK centre for a few (too many), there are RBR staff dressed head to toe in their stuff on the ale.

When I've been out in Maranello, the Ferrari staff dont go into bars drinking in uniform.

Edited by the-norseman on Friday 6th October 07:35
where is the question? biggrin

Koln-RS

3,863 posts

212 months

Friday 6th October 2023
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RBR staff have more to celebrate ? biggrin

Blib

44,046 posts

197 months

Friday 6th October 2023
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andburg said:
where is the question? biggrin
I think that he wants to buy them all a drink.

andygo

6,803 posts

255 months

Friday 6th October 2023
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I live in MK as well. I often see RBR team wear being worn in supermarkets, the main shopping areas etc. I think they prolly dont get paid enough to buy normal clothes as Max gets all the money given to him.

zsdom

784 posts

120 months

Friday 6th October 2023
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andygo said:
I live in MK as well. I often see RBR team wear being worn in supermarkets, the main shopping areas etc. I think they prolly dont get paid enough to buy normal clothes as Max gets all the money given to him.
Why are they going to supermarkets with RBs massive catering budget?

Niponeoff

2,091 posts

27 months

Friday 6th October 2023
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Probably just an excuse to be seen in MK.