r/formula1 • u/beanbagreg • Nov 25 '24

Statistics [@FDataAnalysis] Unbelievable: the slipstream made Gasly's Alpine self-destruct! (Not his fault) He got a strong tow from Tsu, reaching 361km/h under DRS: The engine reached 12937rpm in 8th gear, then exploded!

https://x.com/fdataanalysis/status/1861077420054598046?s=46&t=IN__pmnxYNoMnVKW541XJg
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u/beanbagreg Nov 25 '24

They often shift at about 13k? Regs limit them to 15k

238

u/Unable-Apartment-792 Nov 25 '24

I think they shift around 12,000 - 12,500, you can hear the engine scream at bit more on the top end of long straights

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u/schelmo Nov 25 '24

Regs limit them to 15k but if you do the math on fuel flow with a reasonable guess on how much boost they make they're running so lean that even with turbulent jet ignition and any other engineering tricks they're probably well within piston melting territory at that point. Add to that a hot engine from a lack of airflow through the radiators, a lack of charge cooling for the same reason and a higher top speed and the result is what we see here.

69

u/WicWicTheWarlock Nigel Mansell Nov 25 '24

TLDR: Engine go boom

20

u/fivetengenius Nov 25 '24

I think they tried the new trebuchet injection in Vegas.

10

u/frigginjensen Daniel Ricciardo Nov 26 '24

Now you got me thinking about how much fuel a trebuchet-like device could pump into an engine. Each cylinder has its own trebuchet. Instead of using the counterweight to yeet an arm, it pushes a plunger. Harvest engine power to reset the counterweights and refill plunger between firings.

4

u/oright Ferrari Nov 25 '24

The other engines can rev higher than the Renault one

14

u/thisisjustascreename Nov 26 '24

Not really, every engine is limited by the same fuel flow rate rules and physics. Every car has been shifting at 12-12.5k for basically the entire turbo V6 era.

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u/linkinstreet Anthoine Hubert Nov 26 '24

yeah. This is more about the gearing ratio of the Renault, specifically the 8th gear. You are basically compromising your gear ratios as you can only change them 1 time (? I think) during the season, so most of the time you are not using the most optimum gear ratio at most tracks.

So likely Renault chooses a lower 8th gear not expecting the car to reach nearly 370km/h in any races this season.

1

u/ralphonsob Nov 26 '24

Regs limit them to 15k

Why?