Ferrari: Enginegate

Ferrari: Enginegate

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CustardOnChips

Original Poster:

1,936 posts

61 months

Friday 18th October 2019
quotequote all
Seen a few (admittedly less than credible) links on social media claiming that there is to be a protest or questions asked about the legality of the latest Ferrari engine.

One mentioned deliberately leaking oil from intercoolers to burn as fuel.

Do we think there is any truth in it? Renault probably hope so as it would take some attention away from them.

Exige77

6,518 posts

190 months

Friday 18th October 2019
quotequote all
CustardOnChips said:
Seen a few (admittedly less than credible) links on social media claiming that there is to be a protest or questions asked about the legality of the latest Ferrari engine.

One mentioned deliberately leaking oil from intercoolers to burn as fuel.

Do we think there is any truth in it? Renault probably hope so as it would take some attention away from them.
Sure their motor is as leaky and oily as a leaky oily thing.

Time will tell where the speed came from but previously the Red team’s bendy misdemeanours have sometimes just disappeared along with their speed.

LeoSayer

7,299 posts

243 months

Friday 18th October 2019
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Didn't Mercedes have a similar thing a couple of years ago when there was a lot of oil smoke at certain times.

Zarco

17,705 posts

208 months

Friday 18th October 2019
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LeoSayer said:
Didn't Mercedes have a similar thing a couple of years ago when there was a lot of oil smoke at certain times.
Think they all used to do it until it was outlawed.

Ferrari have definitely found a big power advantage somewhere half way through this season.

Defcon5

6,160 posts

190 months

Friday 18th October 2019
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How does the oil burning work? Does it give extra power itself (avoiding a peak fuel flow rule) or does it simply act as extra fuel so they can push for longer without risking running out of fuel?

Kenny Powers

2,618 posts

126 months

Friday 18th October 2019
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No idea but something seems a bit fishy. Even a following car with slipstream and DRS can't gain enough ground to make an overtake.

zsdom

759 posts

119 months

Friday 18th October 2019
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The timing of their speed should raise an eyebrow, isnt development & work on the cars banned during the summer break?

Zarco

17,705 posts

208 months

Friday 18th October 2019
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Defcon5 said:
How does the oil burning work? Does it give extra power itself (avoiding a peak fuel flow rule) or does it simply act as extra fuel so they can push for longer without risking running out of fuel?
Burning oil gives more power somehow.

Graveworm

8,476 posts

70 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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zsdom said:
The timing of their speed should raise an eyebrow, isnt development & work on the cars banned during the summer break?
I think, technically, engines are exempt as the teams are "customers" of separate divisions IIRC.

Graveworm

8,476 posts

70 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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Graveworm said:
I think, technically, engines are exempt as the teams are "customers" of separate divisions IIRC.
As for sources it's not just Social media it's a lot of the more mainstream motorsport media. That siad as with Renault it's chicken and the egg, Without knowing what they are doing it's tough to make a complaint and without one FIA probably won't investigate especially Ferrari.

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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Have not seen the article, but I would be inclined to take it with a pinch of salt.

Inter coolers are either Air to Air, or in F1 Water to Air. Where does the oil come from? The FIA now monitor oil consumption very closely. My understanding was that when oil was being consumed, it was being done in party modes during 1-lap qually.

During the race the quantity needed would be too great.

To my mind, when you see the Ferrari pull away out of a corner, it looks like electrical power is being deployed at a much higher rate before the ICE is producing maximum power.

Whatever Ferrari have done, it looks very impressive and does not seem to manifest itself in their customer teams.

p1stonhead

25,489 posts

166 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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say they haven’t been doing anything silly; where the hell HAS their insane recent speed come from?

Kraken

1,710 posts

199 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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rdjohn said:
Have not seen the article, but I would be inclined to take it with a pinch of salt.

Inter coolers are either Air to Air, or in F1 Water to Air. Where does the oil come from? The FIA now monitor oil consumption very closely. My understanding was that when oil was being consumed, it was being done in party modes during 1-lap qually.
Ferrari use oil in their intercooler according to Autosport and are the only team that does so. Coolers can be air to air or liquid to air. Doesn't have to be water. The monitoring of oil burn is from the oil used to lubricate the engine. Not sure if the FIA tests would pick up on oil coming from elsewhere as I think they monitor oil consumption rather than mixture.

Mr Dendrite

2,301 posts

209 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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This is one of those fishing enquires to the FIA. The others teams are asking for clarification if they can develop similar systems. I Expect a clarification of technical rules but not any censure of what Ferrari have done so far.. The Renault brake one is a straight accusation of rule breaking.

Kraken

1,710 posts

199 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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Thing is though that, according to the reports, the FIA are refusing to clarify anything saying teams have to protest if they think Ferrari are doing something wrong.

Mr Dendrite

2,301 posts

209 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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Kraken said:
Thing is though that, according to the reports, the FIA are refusing to clarify anything saying teams have to protest if they think Ferrari are doing something wrong.
Interesting, thanks.

Zarco

17,705 posts

208 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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Mr Dendrite said:
Kraken said:
Thing is though that, according to the reports, the FIA are refusing to clarify anything saying teams have to protest if they think Ferrari are doing something wrong.
Interesting, thanks.
That is always the system I think. A protest from another team prompts an investigation and clarification.

Although I've read this week that teams used to be able to approach Charlie Whiting unofficially to avoid lodging a protest. It's an unwritten rule that teams do not protect each other without hard evidence. Whiting's sudden death has left a gap in this process.

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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Remembed those engjne starts with giant plumes of smoke?? Might be related..

..or, their pre-season testing speed has finally found its way back.

Mr Dendrite

2,301 posts

209 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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So the only way to avoid a direct protest of Ferrari would be to design something that replicates what you think Ferrari are doing and submit it to the FIA for approval? If they say yes off you go if they say no.... I think the teams are trying to smoke out the detail of what Ferrari are doing through a clarification rather than protesting and being told it’s fine, end of, and up to you to work it out?

MartG

20,622 posts

203 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
Kraken said:
rdjohn said:
Have not seen the article, but I would be inclined to take it with a pinch of salt.

Inter coolers are either Air to Air, or in F1 Water to Air. Where does the oil come from? The FIA now monitor oil consumption very closely. My understanding was that when oil was being consumed, it was being done in party modes during 1-lap qually.
Ferrari use oil in their intercooler according to Autosport and are the only team that does so. Coolers can be air to air or liquid to air. Doesn't have to be water. The monitoring of oil burn is from the oil used to lubricate the engine. Not sure if the FIA tests would pick up on oil coming from elsewhere as I think they monitor oil consumption rather than mixture.
And the 'oil' they use in the intercooler can have any chemical makeup they desire if the FIA aren't monitoring it wink