The current Formula 1 cars have small engines considering the power they produce. All Formula 1 cars use a 1.6-liter turbocharged, turbocharged V6 engine since 2014. This small displacement produces more than 850 horsepower.
The engine’s design is a major factor in its power. But, you may also wonder if Formula 1 cars use a special fuel to increase their performance. Formula 1 cars use the same fuel as commercially available gasoline.
Today’s topic will be about Formula 1’s fuel consumption. We will discuss the fuel used by Formula 1 cars in more detail.
Formula 1 Cars: What Fuel Do They Use?
Formula 1 cars can produce huge power figures with relatively small engines, as we have already mentioned. It’s possible to believe that these cars can achieve this feat by using some crazy racing fuel like Top Fuel dragsters use or something similar.
The Formula 1 fuel is virtually the same as any other fuel, at least when it comes to chemicals used. Formula 1 fuel uses a more precise mix of chemicals that is available in commercial fuels.
Each Formula 1 team uses a different engine tuning system, so each team receives fuel specifically tailored to their needs. A number of fuel companies sponsor the teams and provide fuels for them, including Shell Petronas Mobil, Total Petronas Mobil, Total Petronas Mobil, Total Petronas Mobil, Total Petronas Mob, Total Petronas Mobil, Total Petronas Mobil, Total Petronas and Cepsa.
Formula 1 cars used high octane fuel up to the end of 2021. Usually, it had an octane rating of 95-102. The cars will switch to 87-octane petrol for the 2022 season. This fuel will contain 10% ethanol.
The 2025 Formula 1 season has even more plans. Formula 1 cars will use a 100% sustainable fuel starting in 2025. It could be made from plant-based biofuel or carbon captured. The new fuel should be just as dense as the fuel currently used. This will ensure that the cars perform the same as before.
What is the fuel tank size for a Formula 1 car?
Formula 1 cars are small and light, so you might assume they have small fuel tanks. This is untrue. The fuel tank of a Formula 1 car will almost certainly be larger than yours.
Formula 1 cars currently use a fuel tank that can hold 30 gallons (13.5 liters). Most teams don’t fill their fuel tanks up before the race. Instead, they make calculations based upon the track conditions and the set-up of the car to calculate how much fuel they will need to finish the race.
The fuel tank’s large capacity means that if it was filled up to its maximum capacity, it would be very heavy and cause a decrease in performance. To keep their car’s weight down, teams fill up their vehicles with as little fuel as possible.
The fuel tank of a Formula 1 car can be found between its driver and engine. Formula 1’s fuel tank is sometimes called a “bladder”. It is made of a variety materials that allow for flexibility and durability.
It is crucial to place the tank between the engine and the driver. If the tank is full, it can impact the car’s center gravity. The tank should be placed as low as possible within the car to keep the center of gravity down and improve handling.
What Fuel Can Cars Use in a Race?
First, Formula 1 fuel is measured by its weight, not its volume. This is because fuel’s volume can change with temperature but not its weight. It is therefore more precise and consistent to measure fuel weight.
Formula 1 cars cannot use more than 110kg (242 lbs) fuel in a race, according to the 2019 regulations. This is an increase on the previous limit of 110 kg (231 lbs) in 2018. The rule was modified to make it easier for drivers to conserve fuel.
Formula 1 banned the practice of refuelling during races in 2010. Drivers must therefore start every race with all fuel they have onboard.
In years past, when fuelling was permitted, some teams tried to make the situation work for them by using less fuel in their race than their competitors. This would have the effect of making the cars lighter and faster, giving them an advantage over those with more fuel.
Refuelling was prohibited for a few reasons. The first was for budgetary reasons, as the cost of transporting all of the refuelling equipment across the world each season was estimated to be about €1 million per team. This was quite a large expense, especially for the smaller teams.
Safety concerns were probably the most important reason for banning mid-race refuelling. Pit crews try to make things happen as fast as possible during pit stops, sometimes leading to mistakes. A simple error can quickly lead to dangerous situations when working with highly flammable fuel.
These situations were most recently seen at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix. Driver Heikki Kolainen tried to get more fuel but drove too fast before the fuel hose could be removed.
The hose was pulled out of the filling station, and all fuel in the hose sprayed all over the track behind Kovalainen. Kimi Raikkonen was following Kovalainen as he made his way out from the pit lane. As the fuel got into contact with Raikonnen’s hot exhaust, it almost instantly ignited in a fireball.
Rainkonnen managed to escape the flames unharmed, but this incident demonstrated just how dangerous it was to allow midrace fuelling to take place.
What is the fuel consumption of Formula 1 cars?
Formula 1 teams do not usually release these figures publicly as it helps to keep them competitive against other teams. We can estimate how much fuel the cars typically carry and how far they are able to travel using this fuel.
The maximum amount of fuel that a Formula 1 car may use in a race is 110kg, or approximately 28 gallons. Races usually last around 305km (190 miles). If we assume that most teams don’t fill their cars with too much fuel, we can divide the 190 by 28 and get an estimate of fuel economy.
We get an average of 6-7 MPGe. Given the engine’s size, it might surprise you that fuel economy is so low compared to other commuter cars. But, Formula 1 engines are extremely specialized performance units that can rev as high as 15,000 rpm.
Can you put normal fuel in a Formula 1 car?
This is a difficult question to answer. Although you could theoretically put regular pump gas into a Formula 1 engine, it would not run. You’d need an engine map to make it run halfway decently. Formula 1 gas is often enriched with extra compounds to improve lubrication. This can affect the engine’s condition.
In 2009, the Ferrari race team tried something new and publicized it. They filled their car with regular Shell gasoline and drove eight times around the Fiorano circuit. The car used race fuel on the first four laps and regular fuel for four of the final four.
Ferrari then measured the lap times with regular and race fuel. The car was only 9/10ths faster around the track using regular fuel. If you are only doing a few laps, regular fuel can be used in Formula 1 cars.
