Idea's for the next engine formula

[Nick Sieczkowski]

I would like to see more variety and less restrictions, so I think that something with the following rules would be simple but interesting...

1. Max horsepower limit,
2. Minimum power unit weight.

Otherwise race any configuration you think is the best, whether it be na, turbo, super, rotary, electric, hybrid, 2 stroke up to 6 stroke or whatever. The only other rules would be to do with cost saving such as max rpm or use of certain materials. And innovation is applauded rather than banned.

What would be some other interesting ideas?

[PhillipM]

Here is the crash test you must pass - *insert appropriate test*
Here is the bounding box for your outermost dimensions - *insert dimensioned box*
And finally, here is 50kg of regulation fuel, you can use less if you wish, but this is the only energy store which is allowed before a race starts.


There'd have to be the usual rules still in there about 4 functioning wheels, cockpit rules, there being a driver, etc. But that would do the rest of it.

*Personally, I'd like to see another one in which all qualifying runs must be done on part-worn mud terrain tyres too. That'd stop the 1 lap qualifying boost maps...

[Lycoming]

How would you enforce the max horsepower limit? why not just impose a fuel flow limit or an air restrictor?

[Tim.Wright]

I always liked the idea of limiting HP but opening up the powertrain regs.

Main reason being that HP is significantly easier to measure compared to fuel flow. A torque/speed sensor on each driven wheel is all thats required. Such a formula would actually result in a convergence to a true optimum solution instead of something imposed by the rules.

[tim|away]

I would definitely like to see engineers solve actual problems rather than constantly being restricted by regulations. Having said that, I would love the idea to supply each team with 100kg of pump gas with which they have to get through the race. It would be entirely up to them to figure out the most efficient solution. Energy Recovery Systems are allowed, but no energy may be stored at the beginning of the race.

[Sombrero]

Greener : full electrical with solar cells, 4WD, 4WS, DRS. The FiA will impone a given number of photons/m2 used in one hour.
New regulations regarding the sound : max. 60 dB. Racing at night is allowed but not mandatory. Adjustement can be made if the Formula E cars are faster than the new Solar F-1.

20 championships races, 10x in Abu Dhabi and 10x Bahrein. Last race counts five time (Abu Dhabi)...

[Tim.Wright]

By my calculations, the I4 should come in for 2022 and then after 2039 they will be running purely on duck farts.

[PhillipM]

By my calculations, the I4 should come in for 2022 and then after 2039 they will be running purely on duck farts.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h30L ... inders.jpg

Looks to me like there's a loophole in 2039 and we can sneak a rotary engine in.

Don't tell the other teams though, we've got a lead here.

[langwadt]

I always liked the idea of limiting HP but opening up the powertrain regs.

Main reason being that HP is significantly easier to measure compared to fuel flow. A torque/speed sensor on each driven wheel is all thats required. Such a formula would actually result in a convergence to a true optimum solution instead of something imposed by the rules.

if you limit horse power directly there would be little to gain from development

[Tim.Wright]

Why on earth would that be?

[langwadt]

Why on earth would that be?

Once you can do the maximum HP what more is there to develop?

[Blanchimont]

Engine efficiency, which translates into lower fuel consumption and therefore less additional weight at the start.

[Tim.Wright]

Well there's the small matter of deciding what type of power train is going to give you the best performance in the first place. Diesel combustion, petrol combustion, naturally aspirated, turbo, full electric, hybrid with recovery systems, fuel cell...

If you ever do get to the stage where everyone truley converg to one optimum and have no more devlopment potential left, then congratulations to motorsport because it would have just found a true optimum powertrain solution for weight, range, efficiency (aero and mechanical), driveability... For the first time in modern history it may have solved a real problem for the automotive industry instead of pissing copious amount of cash up against the wall to make a little carbon element bend a bit more to get around some arbitrary rules.

And that would be the whole point of the formula. To find a real performance optimum. Not something imposed by boardroom suits.

[FoxHound]

@tim wright

How would motorsport have stumbled across this in light of the stringent regulations?
Who bears the onus?

[Tim.Wright]

I don't get your point. The idea of the formula would be to ditch most of the powertrain regulations in favour of a power limit enforced at the wheels.