“ When run ‘ in reverse ’ as a motor it delivers up to 160bhp of power ”
POWER TRAIN
POWER UNIT
F1 ® cars have been ‘ hybrid ’ since 2014 , combining a 1.6-litre V6 turbo petrol engine with two electric generators – one that recovers kinetic energy from the rear brakes and one that recovers heat energy from the exhaust .
The petrol engine is restricted to 15,000rpm and a maximum fuel flow rate of 100kg / hr to maximise its fuel efficiency . This produces around 700bhp , with the remaining 300bhp coming from the electric generators .
The kinetic energy recovery unit ( MGU-K ) works as a generator to harvest energy produced under braking and stores it in a 20kg battery . When run ‘ in reverse ’ as a motor it delivers up to 120kW ( or 160bhp ) of power .
The heat recovery unit ( MGU-H ) sits on top of the V6 internal combustion engine ( ICE ) and uses the exhaust gases to also spin up a generator , produce electricity and store it in the battery . It ’ s used in part to help eliminate turbo lag .
There is a strict limit on the number of each of these units allowed during a season , obliging teams to balance performance and reliability . Drivers are allowed three example per season of the ICE , turbo , MGU-H and MGU-K , two examples each of the energy store ( ES ) and control electronics ( CE ), and eight sets of exhausts . If extra elements are used , then grid penalties are applied .
A lot of work from the supplier of each team goes into optimising fuel , although only one spec change per year is allowed .
ENGINE STRUCTURE
The power unit is mounted directly behind the survival cell and works as a structural part of the car , connecting rearwards to the gearbox , and then to the rear suspension and rear wheels .
The gearbox has eight forward gears and the ratios are fixed at the start of the season , so power delivery must work on everything from slow corners in Monaco to fast straights at Monza . Drivers are allowed a pool of three gearboxes per season before penalties are imposed for use of a fourth example and above .
“ When run ‘ in reverse ’ as a motor it delivers up to 160bhp of power ”
4
1 Energy Store
2 Internal Combustion V6 Engine
3 MGU-K ( Motor- Generator Unit – Kinetic )
4 MGU-H ( Motor- Generator Unit – Heat )
5 Turbocharger
2
1
5
3
52