Laptime in a can: the difference fuel and lubricants can make

When engine development was frozen for five years at the start of the 2008 season, the task for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes technology partner Mobil 1 became to relentlessly refine its cutting-edge fuels and lubricants in order to exploit the tiniest of chemical advances.

At this month’s Santander British Grand Prix, Mobil 1 introduced its NewTechnology lubricant, a revised formulation that had been so successfully fine-tuned by ExxonMobil that it became euphemistically known within the racing team’s engineering department as ‘laptime in a can’.

So what, exactly, does it do?

Put simply, Mobil 1 NewTechnology oil possesses a unique new formulation that allows it to be less viscous while still maintaining the high levels of lubrication required to efficiently coat a high-tech Formula 1 engine. The reduced viscosity therefore speeds up the engine’s internal processes because key components are no longer required to pump their way through a thick coating of oil.

“A racing car really wants to run as little oil as possible in the sump,” explains McLaren Racing managing director Jonathan Neale. “We want the minimum amount of oil needed to maintain a film in the most essential areas – such as the engine, gearbox and wheel bearings – but by using a less-viscous formulation, we can improve performance while still maintaining the same levels of safety and efficiency we previously enjoyed.”

What goes in to Mobil 1’s NewTechnology oil remains top secret – suffice to say, it is considerably less viscous than its predecessor yet still manages to maintain the highest levels of performance and efficiency required to excel in F1 competition.

“Mobil 1’s products are becoming increasingly less viscous,” adds Neale. “But they still provide a very good oil film. The NewTechnology formulation now means more of the efficiency in the engine can be delivered to the rear wheels – something that really does confer tangible lap-time benefits.”

And with the pioneering work done at the racetrack invariably destined to trickle down to the consumer, it will surely only be a matter of time before the practical and economic benefits of Mobil 1’s NewTechnology lubricants are felt in both your car and your pocket.