Engine tokens - spend spend spend!

So we are off and both Ferrari and Honda are spending tokens in time for Canada. Merc don't seem in a hurry - no tokens spent yet. Let's hope the balance of power starts shifting!

Redirecting...

 

Merc is using fresh engines for Canada. We'll see if that counters any gains by Ferrari and Honda.

Question: Are they allowed to do anything to the engines between races? Like new rings? Is it necessary?

 

Mercedes had used more tokens prior to the season start, so now they're all level with remaining tokens except for Renault - who are still trying to keep them from blowing up every race...

 

+1

I really don't know what happened to Renault. They were OK last year, but they seem to have regressed for some reason. Although, their problems do seem more "prevalent" in the Big Cans rather than the Baby Cans. The infamous "packaging" maybe?

As for changes, very, very little. I'm pretty sure they can't change rings or bearings etc without taking a hit. Fluids & plugs, and that's about it I think.

Here's the updated "standings". As the Viz first suggested, it would be nice if they told us exactly where they were spending their tokens.

Cheers,
Ian
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I think Ferrari said they were spending on 'combustion' which looks to be a pretty big change (cylinder heads, cams, pistons, basically the whole top end).

 

I read it was to the heads as well. I also read they are not going to use the new units in Canada? Seems odd to invest and not use it.

 

Ferrari will be bringing the new PU's to Canada.

 

If that means Merc will have to push to stay ahead, the increase in Ferrari power could result in Merc brake failure.

 

New turbo for Honda now and new combustion engine mods soon, in Hungary, likely worth even more than 2 further tokens. I bet they'll be the first to use all tokens, which is kinda funny as they weren't supposed to be allowed to any.
Renault otoh are in similar waters but not making any changes? Just reliability problems?

 

From espnf1:

The exact details of Ferrari's engine upgrades have not been released, but speaking earlier in the season technical director James Allison explained the potential three tokens could unlock.

"You need to make sure you can get horsepower from spending those tokens, but three is an important number even if it doesn't sound like a lot," he said. "Three buys you a combustion upgrade and a combustion upgrade is quite significant - it could be pistons, cams, injectors, cylinder heads - so it's like a top end of the engine. A three token difference is a useful difference."

 

I think Renault may have written 2015 off, and may be further developing and refining their upgrades rather then rush them into use.

 

Let's hope so.

 

Good news that most of the power is actually made at the top end, exactly where Ferrari invested....Lets hope it brings solid returns!

 

If you spend a token to change something and don't like the result, do you have to spend a token to change back to what you had before?

 

As far as I know teams have to use all their allotted tokens but the end of this season before getting next year's new allotment in the offseason

 

Good point. Of course, the fact that they haven't "used" their tokens doesn't mean they are not working. It just means that they haven't submitted the changes for homologation. There could be lots of reasons for that. These rules make things a bit murky.

 

+1

"Power comes from the top end......

Reliability comes from the bottom end"

No idea who initially said that, but something else that's stuck with me over the years.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Lets just hope their bottom can sustain the extra power without grenading. We need some real competition out there. A 4 way scrap for first would make me happy.

 

Depends on how much Charlie likes you, as per everything.
you need to be one of Charlie's angels

 

So we are nearly half way through the season and it's all over for anyone without a Merc or Ferrari engine. Meanwhile, Renault and Honda engines can't even work reliably yet. This is clearly hurting the spectacle of the sport, the fans, the sponsors, pretty much everyone involved. Why don't they just cut Renault and Honda a bit of slack and allow them to develop their PUs to a decent level of reliability? They can't win anything so it doesn't harm the championship...

 

They should just do away with this nonsense. Let the team develop the engines as and when they want to. These token bullcrap is confusing, nonsense, and makes no sense.

 

Well that at least explains why the FiA like it

 

You test in that dyno room before you decide that is a change worth doing. Then you submit your token(s).

There are no funds saved with this token system.
Pete

 

^^^^^^^
Is this formula one or the supreme court of idiocy ??!!

If Bernie has any power then he should wipe out the testing ban and this lunacy re engine limitations

 

Allow open development until power parity is achieved, then bring back tokens until reliability parity is achieved. Done. Tokens will work in this case, because it will keep teams from further developing engines for power under the guise of reliability.

They can't bring back unlimited testing. It costs way too much. They can have Monday testing after every other race, though. Still quite expensive, but not frightfully so. Testing on Monday after the races, because if there's testing before the race, all the teams will just use that time to fettle their cars.

Teams get two Power Units (dumb name) per year for Monday testing. They may not be used in races, nor any parts shared between race PU's (dumb name) and testing PU's (dumb name), BUT, testing PU's (dumb name) may be repaired without limitation, provided they are repaired with the same spec parts and not development parts. Done.