Alvin's Formula One Blog

This article was is re-produced from F1Technical.net in its entirety . It is an excerpt from Renault F1 Q&A. Enjoy. A throttle has come to be associated with any part that controls the power of an engine – such as the accelerator pedal – but in actual fact it is a hydraulically operated mechanism used to increase or decrease inlet gases to the engine. In a V8 there are eight throttles on the top of the engine unit that control the amount of air that enters each of the engine cylinders from the airbox. When the throttles are open, air enters the engine unit. Fuel will be injected just before the inlet valve and hence the combustion chamber, and the spark plug will ignite the fuel and oxygen content in the air. The throttle therefore dictates the amount of fuel burned on each cycle to produce efficient power. When the throttle is closed, no air enters the engine and the combustion process is temporarily suspended. All the throttle valves are controlled via the accelerator ped...

Even though we have yet to start the 2013 season, most teams are already looking forward and preparing for 2014 in earnest from now. They have been preparing since it was announced that in 2014 the engine formula will go through a drastic change - from a V8 to a V6 turbo. It is a huge change that will change the whole car, its behaviour and driving characteristics. Which in turn will change how drivers have to drive the car, how teams manage their strategies and ultimately how we enjoy our race as fans. Here is a Q&A with Rob White , Deputy Managing Director (Technical) at RenaultSport F1. He outlines the challenges they faced as engine suppliers and the end of an engine line that is the RS27 which has been in service for 8 years. With 2013 being the last year of the V8 engines, what remains to be optimised on the RS27? 2013 will be the last year of the V8 engines that, after eight years of service, will be retired at the end of the season to make way for the V6 in 2014. ...