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Make a Formula 1 faster with lubricants and other coolants, it's possible: in a discipline where marginal gains make the difference, manufacturers are now working hand in hand with their suppliers to earn milliseconds. "We are constantly looking for more efficient and lighter fluids to be faster," says Mercedes' chief technology officer Geoff Willis.
The German manufacturer and Malaysia's Petronas national oil company are developing together single-seaters, fuels and fluids (engine oil, gearbox oil, coolant for the engine and its electrical components, and brake fluid). This "co-engineering", say the partners, is one of the ingredients that allow the team to dominate the discipline since the introduction in 2014 of the V6 turbo hybrid engine, with four consecutive titles at the drivers and constructors , and maybe five by the end of 2018.
"It was not like that before," recalls Eric Holthusen, chief technology officer at Petronas, who experienced F1 with Shell in the 1990s. "I have worked with different teams and in the past developed an engine and then said: + this is our new engine, give us a lubricant that can solve all possible problems. "
Performance
Gasoline plays a central role today more than ever. With a limited fuel tank of 105kg, "the amount of energy per kilogram of fuel is essential," says Willis. "A good progression in terms of fuel is in tenths of a second," he says. Under penalty of penalties on the grid, teams are limited to three engines per single seat for the entire 2018 season. However, they have full discretion for fuel, oils and lubricants.
They therefore use this lever to gain regular performance, without waiting to introduce an improved power unit. Thus, in four years, according to Holthusen, Petronas tested 1000 lubricants and developed 500 for F1, as well as 200 fuels. It is not only about pure performance but also weight: an F1, even marginally lighter, is faster. These few milliseconds can weigh heavily in qualifying.
"These small changes can be much bigger," says Mercedes' chief technology officer, "Coolants or better lubricants allow us to design a faster car, for example by equipping it with more cooling radiators. small, which allows us to improve aerodynamics. "
Reliability
Each engine having to hold seven or eight Grand Prix and each gearbox six, lubricants and coolants have, finally, a crucial maintenance role. They are also scrupulously analyzed after use to prevent failures. "When a motor breaks down, you find tiny amounts of metal in the fluids, which is why we test them, to prevent these metals from damaging the engine and to identify areas of wear," explains Andy Holmes, Head of Research and Technology at Petronas.
In addition to permanent special envoys at the two Mercedes factories in Great Britain, the Malaysian firm, title sponsor of the team, is dispatching two engineers at each Grand Prix, responsible for carrying out these analyzes as close as possible to the garage.