Having the
proper petrol in the tank fuels success in Formula 1. In the development
laboratories of the oil companies, a veritable army of scientists is
searching for the elixir of victory. Those who uncover the formula for
success create the decisive advantage for their race cars out on the track.
However, there is something even more important than the performance: the
safety of the drivers and the pit crews.
Even back in the founding years of Formula 1, the fuel was one of the most
important components for a good performance. The mixtures brewed back then –
from substances such as benzene, methanol, acetone and nitrobenzene – were,
however, often so volatile that they had to be drained from the engine
immediately after practice and races. Without this precaution, the engines
would not have survived the night. The mechanics who came into contact with
these fuels suffered chemical burns that required hospital treatment.
Fortunately, those times are behind us. Gradually, the Fédération
Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) curtailed the list of permitted
additives for safety reasons. Nevertheless, the petroleum companies were
still experimenting with more than 300 mixtures in the early nineties. It
took until 1993 for the FIA to call time on these developments, demanding
that Formula 1 fuel comply with all EU safety and health regulations. The
performance of the race cars remained entirely unaffected. In fact, the
development of the petrol, approximately 250,000 litres of which is used for
research, tests and races each season, is still conducted on a highly
professional level by the oil companies. |
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The requirements
to be fulfilled by the fuel, which is intended to give the cars that extra
shot of power for those decisive tenths of a second, are extreme: it should
be very lightweight and keep consumption as low as possible so the cars'
weight can be kept to a minimum and the refuelling stops remain short.
The refuelling procedure itself offers no scope for saving time. The
refuelling systems are standardised and pump only 12 litres per second of
the EU-compliant unleaded premium petrol into the tank, which is fitted
behind the driver’s seat. For safety precautions and fire prevention during
a crash, its hull is made of deformable kevlar.
During refuelling in Formula 1, both the driver and mechanics are
well-protected by fireproof overalls and helmets. Everyday drivers are
subjected to hazards themselves at petrol stations. Although the probability
of a fire is comparatively low thanks to safety regulations, it must always
be remembered that petrol is volatile and highly flammable. Between 1993 and
2004, the number of petrol station fires reported worldwide was still more
than 200. “Every one of us can contribute to increased safety by trying not
to spill any petrol while refuelling and by avoiding sources of ignition,”
says Dr Christoph Lauterwasser from the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT).
“Obvious sources of ignition include cigarettes and open fires, but
electrostatic discharges that cause sparks can also be avoided – for example
by not entering the vehicle again after refuelling has begun.”
Although optimal fuel is also important for the performance of cars in
everyday traffic, in Formula 1 it represents a colossal competitive
advantage. The ability to complete just one or two laps more than the
competition on the same amount of fuel can have a decisive impact on the
outcome of the race. Fuel consumption plays a major part in strategy and is
therefore among the teams’ best-guarded secrets. According to estimates by
experts, a Formula 1 car uses approximately 70 litres of fuel per 100
kilometres. In view of the performance achieved by the race cars, this makes
them highly economical.
To ensure only the permitted fuel is used in Formula 1, each team must
submit a sample to the FIA before the season. On Grand Prix weekends, the
FIA technicians take random samples from the cars, storage tanks and
refuelling machines, which are then analysed and compared with the submitted
sample in a special on-site laboratory at the race track. If the samples do
not match, drastic penalties can be imposed. These can go as far as
disqualification from the race. Usually however, all teams play by the rules
– after all, you can only make it to the podium with the right fuel.
Allianz Safety Check: Shanghai International Circuit - by WilliamsF1 Team
driver Mark Webber:
“This is one of the most interesting circuits on the calendar. The first
corner is especially taxing, in my opinion one of the most difficult in
Formula 1. The extremely long right-hander narrows abruptly at the end and
really isn’t easy to take. Making a driving error here results in a decisive
loss of time during qualifying that is impossible to make up again. The good
overall impression is backed up by the fact that the super-modern circuit,
which was only opened in 2004, is state-of-the-art when it comes to safety.” |
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