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F1 Officially Announces Turbo 1.6-Liter Four-Cylinders For 2013

 
6 4,584 views Dec 10, 2010
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Scuderia Toro Rosso STR5 2010 F1 car

Scuderia Toro Rosso STR5 2010 F1 car

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The grid has been all a-bluster with talk of the coming engine changes for 2013 for months now, but today, it's official: the 18,000 rpm, 2.4-liter V-8 is now on its deathbed in Formula 1, its 12,000 rpm 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo replacement announced today for the 2013 season. The goal: a "greener" series, cutting fuel consumption by 35 percent.

Of course, a 35 percent improvement in F1 engines equates to about 1 mpg, but that's a significant amount of emissions and fuel across 24-26 cars and about 20 races, practice days, and qualifying sessions.

The new engines will be limited to a maximum of 12,000 rpms--still a rather high figure for an engine with two-thirds the displacement but only half the cylinder count of the outgoing V-8s. In addition to turbocharging (which isn't specificaly mentioned in the release, but is expected), the engines will feature high-pressure direct fuel injection at up to 500 bar, or 7,252 psi. Gasoline is still the requisite fuel.

Energy recovery systems and "additional energy management" will also play a role, meaning KERS is due to come back, though likely in a heavily revised and evolved form by the time the 2013 season arrives.

For those afraid to see turbos and four-cylinders in F1, look back to the early 1980s when manufacturers like BMW managed to extract 900+ horsepower from 1.5-liter turbo fours on 55 psi of boost with a redline around 11,500 rpm--very close to the specs of the 2013 engines, but with another 20 years of technology to draw on. Even better: some of those engines were turned up to 80 psi of boost or more for qualifying, generating as much as 1,300 horsepower. From a 1.5-liter four-banger. In the 1980s. Yeah.

[Formula 1, Gurney Flap]





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Comments (6)

  1. By MyNameIsNigel Posted: 12/10/2010 11:40am PST

    A turbocharged 1.6 liter engine in a F1 car ? WTF ????
     
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  2. fb_100000079225802 avatar Samuel Choi Posted: 12/10/2010 4:57pm PST

    Bad idea. It would be nice if they stayed naturally aspired
     
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  3. fb_100001366173643 avatar Francisco Reis Posted: 12/10/2010 5:00pm PST

    No comments! In 2015 it's going to be with batteries...
     
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  4. By  gazzed Posted: 12/11/2010 1:12am PST

    Another good thing to point-out with these four bangers - F1 cars will most definitely become shorter in length and lighter which equates to better handling, F1 pilots will be in agreement over that issue.
     
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  5. By John Hurlock Posted: 12/11/2010 5:10pm PST

    Saving gas, have they got to be kidding!! This is racing not an economy run; next they will want mufflers and cup holders. So will F2 and F3 consequently go to 2 and 1 cylinders?? Sure F1 is ridiculously expensive but the cutting edge racing is what the public wants, I think this move will only lose fans.
     
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  6. By JussiPekkaKalevi Posted: 12/31/2010 7:43am PST

    That's the way to go, long live turbos and inline engines! I'm still hoping to see inline six in F1 someday.
     
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