I agree with virtually every single word of this. These powertrains will be extremely fascinating to people like us, but we're a tiny tiny bit of the people F1 wants to reach. To regular people, the only difference they'll notice, is the cars don't have a banshee wail like they used to.Ian P. wrote:First we had Engines, then they added KERS. Costs go up .... or down ...???
End result, not down.
Now they are talking about a whole new concept. Yes the engine itself is potentially simpler and less expensive, but the KERS, HERS etc. sure as heck isn't going to be free or cheap.
But Wait .... it doesn't stop there.
The advent of the fluel flow limitation at 100kg/Hr, will only reward those that can generate the highest thermal efficiency out of the engine. This aspect alone will have an enormous cost. The benefit will go to those that get it right.
From my calcs, the HP will be limited (based on fuel flow) to 640 BHP for an overall efficiency of 40% from 10,500 rpm to whatever you want to shift at (under 15,000). Bump this up to 45% and you gain 80 BHP.
This is competition at the highest level. The manufacturers will turm themselves inside out to squeeze that last fraction of a percent. You can't override this with turbo boost because of the fuel flow limit.
We will see different bore and stroke engines, different max revs, the boost profiles will all be the same, they will sound like crap, sorry sheeeeooot-pop and being a smaller overall package, the aerodynamics will be even more important than todays cars.
Don't get me completely wrong, it is going to be absolutely fascinating to see this come together. Good racing, I doubt it.
But hey, if they're willing to spend all that money to fascinate a few of us gearheads, then I won't complain.