The 12 months 2025 marks the ultimate Formulation 1 season for energy items launched with the 2014 rules. Regardless of a protracted 12-season interval, together with solely 9 years of unrestricted improvement earlier than the freeze in 2022, the technical cycle concludes with out absolute convergence, with two equally legitimate philosophies. Till the tip, Ferrari has remained the only real staunch supporter of the compact turbocharger engine, resisting the cut up turbo embraced by Mercedes, Honda, and Renault. Nevertheless, this selection has left no regrets.
The cut up turbo
Mercedes was the primary producer to introduce the cut up turbo structure for hybrid energy items. This answer separates the turbine, powered by scorching exhaust gases, from the compressor, which compresses the air getting into the engine. A rotating shaft connects the 2 elements, with the MGU-H positioned in between. The MGU-H is an electrical motor pushed by the turbine to recharge vitality, however it will possibly additionally carry out work to speed up the compressor.
Honda adopted Mercedes, introducing a cut up turbo structure, which Renault later adopted with its 2022 energy unit. That very same 12 months, it was speculated that Ferrari may also undertake this design, however the Maranello technicians and engineers selected to proceed with its philosophy. “In our structure, the MGU-H is mounted in entrance of the turbocharger,” defined Enrico Gualtieri, head of Ferrari’s engine division, in 2023. “Through the years, we determined to take care of this answer, which is uncommon in comparison with our rivals. The selection was to maintain a compact turbo-MGU-H meeting reasonably than separating them, permitting your complete unit to suit inside the V of the engine between the 2 cylinder banks.”
The benefits
In a 2021 interview with the Ialian media, then Honda F1 technical director Toyoharu Tanabe mentioned the choice to undertake the cut up turbo: “We gained expertise with the compact answer earlier than shifting to the configuration with separated turbine and compressor, as we at Honda profit from this setup. We discovered lots from each the earlier and the present designs. Maybe there are benefits to the compact turbocharger, however since we by no means went again to that answer, I can’t say for sure. Nevertheless, the present structure is likely one of the greatest compromises.”
The desire for one idea over one other depends upon the facets chosen to be prioritized, aiming for the very best compromise between weight, measurement, and engine efficiency. The cut up turbo, for instance, separates the turbine and compressor, putting them outdoors the engine block. This association permits the connecting shaft and the MGU-H to be housed between the 2 cylinder banks, reducing your complete turbocharger meeting.
On one hand, the cut up turbo helps decrease the middle of gravity whereas making certain compact dimensions and larger freedom for the aerodynamics division in designing the automobile’s bodywork. Nevertheless, the equation additionally contains the shapes of the consumption and exhaust ducts, the air and fuel stress losses inside them, the usable engine energy, and {the electrical} vitality that may be regenerated by means of the MGU-H. “From the attitude of energy unit efficiency, we want a sure degree of energy obtained by means of vitality regeneration,” Tanabe defined in 2021. “The cut up turbo package deal might additionally affect aerodynamics, however total, the benefits by way of energy unit competitiveness are larger, which is why we selected this answer.”
Ferrari’s philosophy
Through the years, Maranello’s engine division has repeatedly explored the cut up turbo structure however by no means discovered the identical benefits as its rivals, persevering with as an alternative with its personal path. That is additionally attributable to completely different selections relating to the compressor, with Ferrari choosing a smaller compressor in comparison with rivals, prioritizing decrease weight, ease of reaching excessive rotational speeds, and higher response at low revs. The compact measurement allowed—and nonetheless permits—Ferrari to suit the turbocharger meeting inside the house between the cylinder banks, providing related advantages to the cut up turbo, not less than by way of measurement and aerodynamics.
The duality between the 2 philosophies is, nevertheless, set to finish within the 2026 Formulation 1 championship. The upcoming rules, apart from eradicating the MGU-H, impose most and minimal diameters for the turbine and compressor and, most significantly, restrict the space between the 2 elements to 175 mm. The cut up turbo is ready to vanish from Formulation 1 after charming all producers from 2014 to at present, although it by no means managed to persuade Ferrari.
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