Red Bull use special engine setting to max one lap in Q3

[John S]

On his website James Allen spills the beans, see below, on why Red Bull is able to pull such stunning final quali laps. It also explains why they can't do another do or die lap if they compromise their optimum lap, even if they have time for another lap, as we saw with Webber in Valencia. I have never heard about this Red Bull/Renault quali trick before, has anyone else? 

I also wonder if the Red Bulls pull the same stunt for part of the opening lap of a GP, it would explain why they want to slow the formation lap down as we have seen them do in the last few races?

Red Bull pioneered the blown diffuser technology and has really maximised it. They blow the exhaust gas through a slot which energises the airflow through the diffuser. It is this slot which the Red Bull mechanics are so keen for people not to see when the car is on the grid. But this is a bit of a pointless exercise, as teams have photographers taking digital images of the cars as they drive down the pit lane!

One of Red Bull’s secrets is a setting on the Renault engine for use on the final crucial lap in qualifying, whereby the ignition is retarded on the over-run, which maintains exhaust gas pressure even when the driver lifts off the throttle. This maintains the performance of the blown diffuser and keeps the downforce up when it’s most needed. It thus avoids the main problem of an exhaust blown diffuser whereby when a driver lifts off the throttle for a corner, the downforce goes missing when you most need it and the rear stability changes.

It’s not something you can do for more than a lap or two as the temperatures go sky high, which damages the engine, but it gives that vital fraction of a second which keeps Red Bull ahead of the rest in qualifying.

jamesallenonf1.com, July 12.

[Scott]

Leave it to Newey, eh?

[Jericoke]

Sounds like it could be used as a 'push to pass' button.  You wouldn't even need any artificial regulations... if you abuse it, your engine goes boom.

(Which might also explain why RBR are so hard on their Renault engines)

[lkjohnson1950]

Is this a Red Bull thing or a Renault thing? Now that Renault is using a blown diffuser will they use this technology? Interesting.

Lonny

[The Cat]

There is a bit in there I dont understand.

If this engine setting stops the car from being unstable when you lift due to air constantly blowing through the diffuser, whats stopping the car from being unstable for the other quali laps and the whole GP??

[Jericoke]

There is a bit in there I dont understand.

If this engine setting stops the car from being unstable when you lift due to air constantly blowing through the diffuser, whats stopping the car from being unstable for the other quali laps and the whole GP??

'Unstable' is a relative term here.  We're talking about an advantage measured in tenths of seconds.

Air is always going through the diffuser, but the engine will produce 'gusts' as it speeds up and slows down, which will naturally alter the driving dynamics (surely you've been in a car on a windy day).  This system eliminates the gusts, and it makes the diffuser more predictable.

[The Cat]

'Unstable' is a relative term here.  We're talking about an advantage measured in tenths of seconds.

Air is always going through the diffuser, but the engine will produce 'gusts' as it speeds up and slows down, which will naturally alter the driving dynamics (surely you've been in a car on a windy day).  This system eliminates the gusts, and it makes the diffuser more predictable.

I can see what your saying, I just dont really get how you can derive a benefit from an 1 lap increase in stability, which for the most part of testing you cant really test for fear of killing the engine, so you never truly know how hard you can push the car for that lap.

Dont get me wrong it obviously works, because there had to be something more than just a blown diffuser as a reason for the massive quali advantage Red Bull enjoy, it will be interesting to see how Renaults quali performances improve now they have the blown diffuser too.

[Jericoke]

I can see what your saying, I just dont really get how you can derive a benefit from an 1 lap increase in stability, which for the most part of testing you cant really test for fear of killing the engine, so you never truly know how hard you can push the car for that lap.

Dont get me wrong it obviously works, because there had to be something more than just a blown diffuser as a reason for the massive quali advantage Red Bull enjoy, it will be interesting to see how Renaults quali performances improve now they have the blown diffuser too.

It depends on which lap it is, right?  One lap, with zero seconds left in Q3 is quite an important one, as is an in lap in a tight race, or the first lap from pole position to get some distance from the rest.

It IS a risky thing to test, because of the strain it puts on an engine.  Also, is a pole in June worth much when it means an extra engine/grid drop in October?

[SennaMan]

Sounds like it could be used as a 'push to pass' button.  You wouldn't even need any artificial regulations... if you abuse it, your engine goes boom.

(Which might also explain why RBR are so hard on their Renault engines)

...smart thinking, thanks Jeri

I was wondering why RBR's engine reliability has been more fragile than other teams and it could be the higher temperatures produced by retarding the ignition during the last lap of Q3 [and perhaps at times during the race]  is the reason