Car Racing without Money-Chapter 452 - 180: The Japanese "Gyokusai" Mentality
In the 2010 F1 season, there was a significant rule reform, which permanently banned refueling during races.
It’s important to know that allowing refueling was as crucial a part of F1 strategy as the choice of tuning plans and the tire change undercut strategy.
During the era when refueling was allowed, there were numerous examples of multiple pit stops, such as Schumacher’s famous four-stop strategy in 2004.
The Ferrari Team used extreme light fuel loads and soft tires, combined with staggered pit stops to shorten the pit time, effectively thwarting Renault Alonso’s early challenge to the Ferrari dynasty.
Schumacher and the Ferrari team proved with their strength that the Ferrari dynasty at its peak was invincible!
However, the refueling process during the race also brought significant safety hazards and incalculable unknown impacts.
The reason is that to shorten refueling time, F1 refueling pipes are high-pressure pumped. If an error occurs, the fuel will instantly spray across the entire car and pit area like a high-pressure nozzle.
If it were a normal civilian car, even if the fueling gun leaked, as long as there was no open flame, it could still remain within the safety boundary.
For F1 cars, due to the extreme squeezing of the engines, stopping means no cold air passing through the intake, causing the temperature of the engine block shell to be extremely high.
At this time, if any fuel splashes onto it, it will be ignited by the high temperature, causing the entire car to catch fire.
In the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix, such an incident occurred. The "Ice Man" Raikkonen had fuel sprayed onto his car, which instantly ignited into a massive fireball.
Fortunately, F1 racing suits have top-notch fire resistance, and only a minor injury was suffered.
If it had sprayed onto the "Matthew" (staff) in the pit, their work clothes would not be at the F1 driver’s top-notch fire resistance level, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
Additionally, during the championship race in the 2008 season, Ferrari driver Masa was forced to drive out of the pit lane with the fuel hose still attached due to a staff error, losing the lead and the race win, indirectly affecting the season championship.
Considering various factors, the FIA ultimately decided to ban refueling!
In a certain sense, this rule change favors the smaller teams.
The fewer the steps, the lower the chance of error, effectively narrowing the gap with the big teams.
Briatore has a premonition that after the FIA simplification of pit stop procedures, the tire change time for each team will increase, making the old standard of about 3 seconds no longer applicable.
2.5 seconds will become the demarcation between big teams and small teams!
Moreover, Hua Bu believes that his standard is not high, especially since this is within the ideal training conditions of winter testing.
In an actual race, they still need to face the complex pit in and out environment, the pressure from the race, and a zero tolerance for errors!
In fact, the 2.5 seconds of training is roughly equivalent to 3 seconds in the race.
Hearing Hua Bu’s "reprimand" to everyone, some of the pit crew showed discontent.
Although Briatore is famous, he is also notorious, and furthermore, he is a "parachute" team manager picking the fruits, so why should he act so high and mighty?
But compared to the angry pit crew, Odetto surprisingly calmed down after being repeatedly subjected to "sharp words".
He realized that he was also unknowingly affected by inertia.
A championship team must demand the highest standards!
"Xiangbei has given us hope, so we cannot let down his dedication and effort, nor let him lose due to the team."
"Execute according to Manager Briatore’s requirements, no negotiation."
This time Odetto’s attitude was also firm; it was not compromise, but agreement.
Just as the team atmosphere was getting increasingly tense, Trulli’s unwilling voice came through the headset.
"There’s a problem with the car engine, seems like it has blown up."
[Blown up?]
Upon hearing this TR radio message, Briatore and Odetto glanced at each other, both seeing a hint of ominousness in each other’s eyes.
The problem with the TF110’s design, despite being very advanced, was precisely here.
With the advent of the "exhaust diffuser", the engine was no longer merely a power unit; it also played an important role as a "blower", with even the manufacturing approach changed.
The engine output mode, instead of engine maximum RPM, became the most crucial optimization direction for the F1 car power unit.
The Mercedes R&D team even developed a way for the engine to open the valves to blow without pressing the accelerator, genuinely turning the engine into a blower, maintaining maximum downforce during throttle-off corners.
All kinds of advanced technologies need hundreds of tests at the R&D base to find the balance before being applied to the cars.
Unfortunately, the Toyota Team withdrew from F1, making it impossible for them to invest in such meaningless tests, leaving the burden to whoever takes over.
The HRT Team, for the time being, neither has the capability nor the time, and can only use winter testing for real-world verification.
Now the problem has arisen; the high-power output engine could not withstand it.
"Trulli, stop at a safe position and await the tow truck."
Briatore immediately responded, then signaled Odetto to communicate with the race center, deploying the yellow flag and safety car.
At the same time, he pressed the voice button again and switched channels to talk with Chen Xiangbei.
