Return of the V12

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Pirelli actually recycle the used F1 tyres to produce more tyres, also for F1.

I need to add to that, though. Pirelli, and the FIA/FOM spend a lot of money transporting those tyres to meetings, especially to what are referred to as the fly away races, even though the containers of tyres are sent by ship.

Two problems there. Firstly, when those far away races are in different countries, let's say a fortnight apart, they have to ship containers to both countries, or it could be even more than two with the way the season is planned.

Secondly, cargo ships are huge sources of lots of carbon, etc., so this is very far from being "green". It's bad enough that F1 needs at least 4 Boeing 747 freighters to get to these fly away races, plus the containers the teams send by sea as well.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by coppice

It may be of importance to them but it's delusional to think that anybody not interested in F1 knows or cares a jot about its greenwashing credentials. Most of which are undermined by using tyres which are very publically thrown away after 15 minutes use .

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Pirelli actually recycle the used F1 tyres to produce more tyres, also for F1.

I suppose that proves half of coppice’s point - the lack of knowledge. Although it is clear coppice cares about this.

[hondafan37]

Why not accept the hydrogen aspirated V12? The development should be great.....

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

Why not accept the hydrogen aspirated V12? The development should be great.....

I guess it depends what your goal is. Do you want

(A) Light weight, nimble, cheaper, simple, etc.
(B) Sacrifice light weight, cost, etc. for more bleeding edge and more road relevance.

High volumetric energy density fuels (such as a hydrocarbon biofuel) fits better with the first option. Using something like battery and/or hydrogen solutions fits better with the second option.

Chart of energy density...


If I understand that chart correctly, the horizontal scale is gravimetric/weight energy density and the vertical scale is volumetric energy density. You can see that battery is poor in both scales. Hydrogen is excellent in gravimetric, but poor in volume (even if liquified). And hydrocarbons like gasoline is a good balance of both (which is why it is so prevalent today as it is a great technical solution... outside of the global warming issues!)

I am not saying you can't race a hydrogen powered car, but it is harder. In short, hydrogen powered race cars will have storage challenges within the context of an F1 car that would not exist with hydrocarbon fuels that have decades of cheap, light, small and safe storage solutions.

Richard