Maybe its everybody's problem afterall..... Monday 22nd March 2010 - PlanetF1.com 'Fuel consumption could be RBR's problem' Red Bull's RB6 could be a fuel-guzzling machine, according to Ron Dennis, who doubts it was a spark plug that ruined Seb Vettel's Bahrain race. The season-opening Bahrain GP looked to a sure victory for Vettel, who claimed pole position before storming away from the chasing pack. However, victory was snatched away when he suffered a sudden loss of power that eventually saw him fall to fourth place behind the Ferraris and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Initially it was assumed that the problem was caused by a broken exhaust while Red Bull later revealed that it was in fact a faulty spark plug that led to Vettel's demise. However, former McLaren team boss Dennis isn't so sure about that. "The lap times dropped so rapidly that one can imagine the electronic control unit (ECU) switching to a conservative programme to save fuel," ESPN reports Dennis as having said. "The problem with the Red Bull could be design. It could be the fuel tank is too small, or the fuel consumption is higher than they expected."
This has been seen a lot in recent seasons of Moto Gp, where the adaptive ECU's have been strangling engine performance to allow the bikes to finish the race. What i don't understand about Ron's comments is why Vettel's Red Bull was said to be making strange noises, and also had a hole is the body work due to excess heat near the exhaust.
If it was the ECU then what activated it to switch modes???? It could not be done via telemetry. The driver does have the ability to switch fuel maps on the steering wheel. If SV changed maps to conserve fuel he would not be on the radio complaining about the loss of power. He would have know that it would have the result of switching maps. Having a spark plug melt down makes sense as you are now running on 7 cylinders hence a large loss in power, sour exhaust note, and loss of lap times. If the ECU changed the map you would have lost power and lap speed but not develop the huge change in the sound the engine makes.
It may possibly be a problem with the exhaust design with Adrian Newey and crew working on it during the practice sessions. Speed spoke of it briefly. Combined with a burnt hole in the bodywork and reported exhaust noise that has to be it. All that heat dumped under the body work is bad news. In the complexity of F1 design a pretty easy fix either through shielding or increased wall thickness.
Would Red Bull have really instructed Vettel to dial down the fuel consumption knob on his steering wheel and then exclaim "I have a loss of power!" over the radio?
I can't see a reason why the ECU would say 'well you're using to much fuel, let me just disable a sparkplug'. Unless maybe Ron made 'special' ECU's for teams that aren't Mclaren . The car definitely sounded like it had an exhaust or spark plug failure. Since the Red Bull boffins have concluded it was a spark plug failure I don't know why moRon is saying this.
If it had a bad spark plug, that means a lot of unburned fuel getting dumped into the exhaust, which burns in the exhaust pipe - meaning a strange sound, and overheating exhaust (hence, the burned bodywork). I tend to think it is correct that it was a spark plug, I see no reason why RBR would lie about it. Plus it fits with the evidence (strange sound + damaged body around exhaust). The ECU being on a fuel saving program wouldn't account for those other things. I think Rob is just stirring the pot.
Ron! Stir the pot! Never! Mclaren would *never* do such a thing! They say they're the most honest, open and trustworthy outfit on the grid....... I'll also go with the broken plug / burnt exhaust scenario. I just don't see how the ECU could do go into economy mode by itself - As has been noted, in years past they could have set it from the pit wall, but no more. Cheers, Ian
+1 Probably one of the most stupid things Dennis has ever said. I mean, you could HEAR the strange sound from the engine on TV - I doubt that the Red Bull ECU has a "Save fuel and let engine sound funny" mode...
I think Ron is way off there or just wishful thinking on his part. If the ECU had gone into any sort of safemode, I seriously doubt Vettel could have kept up the pace he had and for that many laps. Also, Webber didn't seem to have those issues and you would think that if one car was thirsty the other one would be as well.
Steady on there, Florian! Ron has a long and storied history of saying really stupid things. As much as he's "the enemy" I thought it was actually pretty cool to see him in the pits in Bahrain - Without Mad Max I guess he got his pass back...... Cheers, Ian
"Hey Ron?" "Yeah?" "Lewis is being quoted as saying Red Bull has the best car right now." "Dammit, I knew when Anthony left Lewis would be flapping his gums." "So... should I plant another story about Lewis having girl trouble?" "No, I'll take care of this myself..."
+1000 Mosley is insanely jealous of Ron D. A quote from Epsilon Euskadi, who should have been given a F1 entry, but this is probably why he didn't get it: “Ron Dennis,” he says immediately. “I admire him. He has been tremendous. I can call him a friend and he has always helped me. We have had fights too, particularly when I was running Benetton and he was at McLaren. People do not realise what he has done, starting from where he started. Not many people in the world have done that. I admire his way of thinking and his attention to detail. I believe in the same things. I had the good luck to be with him for seven years and I learned a lot
Not only that, but did Ron forget who makes the ECU? Since the car sounded like crap, why point the finger @ the ECU? I am surprised Ron even commented on this... I'm guessing some reporter sought him out and asked him. I don't see why he would care so much about what the problem is with the RB or why he would think RBR was being coy about the truth.
Don't forget the McLaren MAKES all the ECU's and all the software. If anyone should know how the system works, it's Ron. You have to admit... it is an rather intreging. I mean, they become rabbits... push way ahead off the field screwing up their strategy.. and then back off to appear to save the car. It's happened before. Hmmmmm.
+1. If it was a fuel problem, it would be a lot simpler for the ECU to cut the fuel/air mixture to all the cylinders reducing power but not risking damage to the engine, rather than shutting down a single cylinder out of the eight, causing a severe imbalance within the engine and risking severe damage. As could be heard on TV and was confirmed by Lewis Hamilton, Vettels car was definately not running on all it's cylinders. I've Got to say that I've never really noticed Ron saying stupid things. Mind you, that's mainly because when he starts talking, half way through the first sentence (usually one of many!), He's completely lost Me with all the Ronspeak!. Ronspeak: Why use one word when you can use a hundred!
