Was 0.3 L of fuel + KERS enough to make it back to the pits?

[Saribro]

Don't you need to stay below a certain laptime aswell on non-hot laps? That would limit fuel-saving measures.

[Shrieker]

I think the crux of the matter is they realised too late I think an argument could be made here that if he was purposefully under fueled to gain a speed advantage, then they could have behaved in an extreme fuel saving manner as described by n smikle here, right after crossing the start finish line in order to reach the pits.

I wonder whether McLaren tried stating that in their defence. It could've convinced the stewards that a good honest mistake was made in the pits, and they realised it too late. Or maybe not since we're talking about Hamilton here...

[Mr.S]

0.3L is a joke anyway. I dont know who was responsible for this. If 2.2 Kg is required for a lap there is no way in hell he would have made more than half the lap of what was left with 0.3L of fuel.

And besides after Canada he was specifically warned that this situation should NOT arise. This is a very well deserved penalty IMO. Mclaren must take the blame. You cant make stupid arguments from a team like Mclaren that hey we'll use KERS & a drive slowly & maybe just maybe we'll make it.

No you cant. If they could have made it to the pitstop ith 0.3L then they should have. I think its clear,they knew they would not make it. This is why Mclaren IMO is a level well below Ferrari.

They have only 1 WCC in the last 10-12 years. This year they should have had 2-3 wins atleast & they have only 1. They dont have the all-round efficiency a Ferrari has given how good their car is.

And This is Formula1. Not you kindergarden play room. Honest Mistake. That is rubbish. They were warned specifically & under fueled the car. If I was Hamilton I would have felt bad because he would have got pole anyway with 1 lap more of fuel.

[Nando]

How many more has run out of fuel in Qualifying this year?
Or even last year?

[Lurk]

I asked about fuel consumption and possible damages, here the translation of what it was told to me.

Given the fact that a minimum lap time has to be achieved, he could hardly run below 40l/100km (so 750m with 0.3l).

Without the minimum lap time rules and at 5000rpm, gearbox and fuel pumps could have been damaged.
Concerning gearbox: lack of input load would have led gearbox to be "run" one time by the engine, the other by the wheels, with a high frenquency. Very bad for gearbox.
Engine would have been ok (no overheating or whatsoever).
Concerning fuel pumps: f1 fuel tanks have a buffer of 2 to 3l. 2 low pressure fuel pumps take fuel from tank to buffer, then a high pressure pump bring fuel from buffer to engine. Low pressure pumps would have worked without fuel which is not very good.

[Websta]

Would he have even had KERS? I thought they can't charge much more than 10 or so seconds worth, and he would have discharged all of it during his flying lap and at the end of his out-lap. And I wouldn't expect them to be able to harvest much at all on the cool down lap.

[siskue2005]

All this is correct
But arent we forgetting one thing?
A driver has to return to the garage at 300% of his fastest time

Otherwise he can be DSQed

so there is no use going slower

[n smikle]

300% was more than enough for him. He could have actually made it.

[n smikle]

0.3L is a joke anyway. I dont know who was responsible for this. If 2.2 Kg is required for a lap there is no way in hell he would have made more than half the lap of what was left with 0.3L of fuel.

Remember that 2.2kg/lap is at racing speed.
They say an F1 car goes about 3.1 miles per gallon..
A modern day 2.4 liter engined car weighing about 1300kg can do a bout 24 miles per gallon. The F1 car is lighter and has better bearings, so it might work out.

[Mr.S]

0.3L is a joke anyway. I dont know who was responsible for this. If 2.2 Kg is required for a lap there is no way in hell he would have made more than half the lap of what was left with 0.3L of fuel.

Remember that 2.2kg/lap is at racing speed.
They say an F1 car goes about 3.1 miles per gallon..
A modern day 2.4 liter engined car weighing about 1300kg can do a bout 24 miles per gallon. The F1 car is lighter and has better bearings, so it might work out.

Might??? Is this a joke??? A Video game.

A team of multiple decades with so many world titles to its name will argue that it MIGHT work & they might get through to the pitstop.

If they could have they would have run instead of coming up with we have an unknown problem which we cant understand. The team knew they were Most probably not going to make it. And it does not matter if they even would have.

You cant run a Championship by guesswork. They already did this in Canada & a new rule was formed because of that with Clear Guidelines. Even after that if they take such risks Then it is a WELL Deserved punishment.

I wonder what would happen if Hamilton had made a mistake in a corner & would got that pole by a tenth.

[bhallg2k]

30.13 At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.

In order to ensure that cars are not driven unnecessarily slowly on in laps during and after the end of qualifying or during reconnaissance laps when the pit exit is opened for the race, drivers must stay below the maximum time set by the FIA between the Safety Car line after the pit exit and Safety Car line before the pit entry. The maximum time will be determined by the race director at each Event after the first day of practice but may be amended later in the Event if deemed necessary. The time will normally be based upon 145% of the best dry P1 or P2 time.

[N12ck]

Surely, you would think, he would put kers on and slight throttle on up the hills, and then roll back down the downhill sections, I would then conclude that 0.3L would be enough- I would think so anyways

[Ray]

Will Buxton made a good point on this. Basically the car failed post qualifying scrutineering, hence the penalty. I think it's a bit harsh but deserved. McLaren did get away with it in Canada once already, and the argument could be made that such a stupid "mistake" deserves a harsh punishment.

[Ian P.]

The incredible irony in this whole phiasco ..... the only reason that the rule, to return to the pit under you own power, even exists, is because McLaren and Hamiltn pulled a low fuel qualifying run in Canafda a couple of years ago. He stopped on the course so there would be enough fuel left for testing. Prsto .... new rule appears.
Sort of like the evolution of the "Pit Exit White Line".

Any othere team would likely have got a 10 place penalty. McLaren, the instigators of the rule .... probably got off light.

[Ray]

Arguments about punishment aside, I'd really like to know why a whole liter of fuel is required for a sample. Even 50ccs would be complete overkill right? Why a whole liter?