Technical updates from Japan
F1 teams are still working intensively on their machineries as the latest updates brought to the last GP in Japan showed. Some are developed to improve this year’s car, but most of the upgrades are aimed to show the directions teams want to take with next year’s cars.
The Japanese GP saw a series of upgrades which give an indication which pattern teams want to follow with the heavily rethought aerodynamical regulation which is set to be introduced next year.
Mercedes upgraded - or rather downgraded - its power unit for Suzuka, forced by the engine woes experienced in Malaysia. Lewis Hamilton’s power unit blew up with only 15 laps to go. As the Japanese GP followed the Malaysian GP with only one week difference, the technical group led by Andy Cowell was urged to take immediate countermeasures. Mercedes, therefore, used another oil to further reduce wear on moving parts. It also gave up its most aggressive engine mode which is called ’strap mode 5’. According to the team the loss was mostly for qualifying, where sources claim reductions of up to 20hp. In race trim the difference overall is much smaller, given that the engine does not run full power all the time.
Sauber F1 Team also introduced new parts for Suzuka. The team which hardly brought any upgrades to its car in the first half of the year could intensify its development rate after the Longbow company stepped in which meant a more relaxed financial situation. For the Japanese GP, the team brought a new floor which was fitted with new end edges. Those were increased in size due to the more curved forms. The team hoped for a significant increase in downforce. Sauber also brought new barge boards to synchronize the air flow with the new floor.
Renault updated the rear part of its floor. It added new cuts right in front of the rear wheels. According to the team, the development is aimed at making the car more stable. Their car's improved performance can certainly not be attributed to this update alone, but Renault proved confident enough to claim after the race that they were 'back in the midfield'.
Honda introduced a new engine in Malaysia in Fernando Alonso’s car. The team decided so to avoid penalties on home soil with the Spaniard. Jenson Button got the new power unit in Japan right before the race. The goal was to enhance the reliability of the unit. Honda invested two tokens for it, but the FIA returned one as part of the upgrade was deemed to be aimed at improving reliability, something that can be done without requiring tokens. This leaves Honda with three remaining tokens for the remainder of the season. However, those can only be taken up with penalties as both Alonso and Button have already taken in use more than the maximum of 5 penalty-free engines in one season.
Ferrari tested a series of new parts on the Friday of the Malaysian GP. The team was happy with the first measurements but decided to postpone its race debut. Next year’s aerodynamical regulations will free up the development of the area underneath the front. That urged Ferrari to investigate and experiment in that area, trying to get a bit of an advantage into 2017. The new package included new turning vanes, ’bat’-wings and splitters. The team brought new front wing supporting pillars to Malayisa which are more curved then the previous solution. Next to those parts, Ferrari also evaluated various front wing configurations which have different horizontal vanes.
