Why are V8 cars stilled being used for F1 demos in 2018?

[JordanMugen]

In the early days of the hybrid era, V8 cars were still being used for demonstration events and that seemed fine then.
But now in 2018, five years into the hybrid turbo regulations, V8 F1 cars are still being used for demonstration events!?

• Renault and Red Bull brought outdated V8 F1 cars to most recent demonstration event in Miami, and the same has happened at nearly every other demonstration event.
• MotoGP ace Marc Marquez tested an F1 car -- but it was an outdated V8 F1 car.
• Daniel Ticktum's prize for winning McLaren Autosport young driver award was to drive an F1 car --- but far from a 900hp hybrid turbo monster, it was an outdated F1 car from 2013 that had been painted in the 2018 livery. What kind of prize is that?

I think it is a poor look for the V6 hybrids, if they can't even bring them out to delight eager fans at demonstration events (due to too much complexity to run them (precharging the batteries etc)? no supply of power units available for demo purposes?) after five years of racing them... Why are not representative hybrid turbo cars used for F1 demos?

[marmer]

far more complex motors

as far as i am aware v8s just need to be pre heated to run or will start regardless if in a de tuned state

reliability v6 are still causing some teams issues so turning up at an event and then not being able to actually do anything would look silly

[zac510]

5 years ago they were using 5 year old cars for demos and testing then, too. There's nothing weird about it.

In any case the car pictured above is also a hybrid because it has a KERS system.

[mertol]

Who cares about stupid hybrids. V8 at least sounds good.

[DiogoBrand]

Not only V8s sound better, they're also cheaper and easier to run, as well as more reliable.

[Manoah2u]

What i personally find much more annoying is they repaint the liveries of former years to current years. it looks off and takes the charm away imho.

[Gaz.]

The teams don't keep the engines, the V6T's go back to the manufacturers between each Grand Prix.

[langwadt]

the sporting regulations, there are rules on when and how you can driver "current cars", "previous cars" +3years old, and "historic cars" from 2013 and before

[Godius]

IIRC last season when Stroll did his private tests in the 2014 Williams car, his father bought 1 or 2 spare Mercedes V6T Hybrid power unit's himself and let Mercedes do a overhaul on it. I think that they are really expensive and not really fitted to use for show runs compared to v8's due to the technical complexity and cost-wise.

[santos]

I think i saw a Ferrari from the hybrid era on Goodwood. And in a show at Milan where Vettel crashed a car from this year.

[AJI]

Didn't Vettel crash this years car in a demo recently?

Edit: santos beat me to it

[DiogoBrand]

What i personally find much more annoying is they repaint the liveries of former years to current years. it looks off and takes the charm away imho.

I agree. In 2015 McLaren went as far as fitting the MP4-30 nose on an MP4-29 for an exposition in Japan, if I'm not mistaken.


Why not just keep each car with its own livery?

[ScottB]

What i personally find much more annoying is they repaint the liveries of former years to current years. it looks off and takes the charm away imho.

I agree. In 2015 McLaren went as far as fitting the MP4-30 nose on an MP4-29 for an exposition in Japan, if I'm not mistaken.
https://c7.alamy.com/comp/EFTAHT/tokyo- ... EFTAHT.jpg

Why not just keep each car with its own livery?

Legal / contract issues with previous sponsors / current sponsors I would think.

Also, for teams that have changed liveries, you’ll confuse casual fans / the wider public. These demo runs like in Miami are to generate interest in the sport, so probably doesn’t make sense to show up in, say, a silver and black Mclaren to a crowd that may well never have seen a race before.

[strad]

The V-8 sounds better and they are ashamed of the modern sound.

[rjsa]

They sound better.