2014
Auto
Racing
Preview
Rule changes dominate
Formula One off-season
Formula One will have a different dimension to its series
this year with the introduction of a new greener engine.
Starting in 2014, every Formula One car will be using a 1.6-litre
turbocharged V-6 engine that will replace the 2.4-litre V-8 that
was previously used from 2006-2013. This new engine will not
only be smaller and more fuel efficient, it has a hybrid energy
recovery system built in, called Ers.
An electric motor will work with the turbocharged V-6 and
assist its efficiency. Therefore, there will be no throttle lag
when the driver accelerates, as the electric motor instantly
gets the engine to respond.
The other change with Formula One is on the fuel end. Each
race car will have to race on only 100kg of fuel (130 litres). This
is a big change considering there was no limit in previous years
and teams would typically use 150kgs. Additionally, engines will
have to have a fuel consumption rate of no more than 100kg/ph.
This will force teams to find ways to conserve fuel or end up
making an extra pit stop losing crucial race positions.
by
David Miller
DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Now that all of the drivers
have been placed on their
respective teams and chose
their new number with the
new Formula One numbering
system it looks like all
systems go.
Vettel will start the season
as the defending Driver’s
Champion for the fourth
time and we hope that this
engine change can close the
gap on Vettel’s dominance
over the sport. He will have
a new teammate after the
departure of long-time
driver Mark Webber, who
left to compete for Porsche
at the FIA World Endurance
Championship. Getting the
promotion from Red Bull
Racing’s sister team Toro
Rosso is another Aussie,
Daniel Ricciardo with four
years of experience under
his belt.
Vettel’s biggest challenger
will once again come from
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso,
but his new teammate,
Kimi Räikkönen might have
something to prove on his
return to the Scuderia. The
Ferrari duo might turn out to
be the most intriguing battle
of the season, as Alonso
hasn’t had a teammate to
compete against since his
New car look
days at McLaren versus Lewis
Hamilton.
Outside of Ferrari, the
only other challenges would
come from Hamilton and
Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.
They both earned victories
and placed in the top-six
of drivers, but overall the
2013 season was considered
a failure. The pressure will
intensify for this group if
they don’t get some podium
results, as they have too
much talent not to make a
dent in the championship
race.
The rest of the field has
been shuffled quite a bit with
notable changes coming
at McLaren where they’ve
promoted Kevin Magnussen
to join Jenson Button from
their junior program after
winning the Formula Renault
3.5 Series last year. Out at
McLaren is Mexican driver,
Sergio Perez, who has found
a new home at Force India
alongside former Sauber
driver, Nico Hulkenberg.
To round out the notable
shuffles, former long-time
Ferrari driver, Felipe Massa
heads to Williams; while
Columbian Pastor Maldonado
departs Williams for Lotus
alongside Romain Grosjean.
Engine and fuel changes might have dominated the off-season talk until the new Formula One
cars were unveiled. Some of them are just plain ugly and strange and will take some time to get
used to with their front nose lowered by 415mm and just sit 135mm above the floor of the car.
It’s all for the safety of the drivers, as the change extremely reduces the likelihood car launches
and driver injuries during T-boning collisions. Additionally, Formula One cars will have their front
wings narrowed and will only have a single rear wing, which should allow for more overtaking.
18
THE DRIVER