Bruno Famin of the Alpine F1 Team says the transparency of the engine maker as a whole helped reassure the team that early-season reliability issues were not unique to Renault’s power units.
Bruno Famin, executive director of F1 engines at Renault in Viry-Châtillon, explains that he has already made the necessary fixes and does not have to worry too much about the manufacturer’s early-season reliability issues. ..
F1 introduced a freeze on engine development ahead of the 2022 season, and the specifications of the power unit have been fixed since March 1. Changes aimed at improving performance are not allowed, but development from a reliability standpoint is allowed, and there is a rigorous process.
If the engine manufacturer identifies a reliability problem and finds a way to solve it, request it from the FIA (International Automobile Federation). The FIA will then share the details and fixes of the issue with other power unit manufacturers. If there is consensus that the rationale for the request is valid, the manufacturer is allowed to make the necessary changes to the engine.
Renault’s F1 power unit mounted on the Alpine F1 has faced various problems in the opening round, and in the pre-season test in Barcelona, the unit mounted on Fernando Alonso was hit by an explosion, Alonso Has already loaded the third engine of the year. A grid penalty will be imposed when the fourth unit is introduced.
However, Bruno Famin believes that reliability issues have been largely resolved and was comforted by the fact that the FIA process was able to see other engine makers also having problems. explain.
“I think everyone has reliability issues with what I see and what I read in the media,” Bruno Famin told RacingNews365.com.
“Also, we know that we’re not the only ones with minor reliability issues, as all manufacturers send reliability requests to the FIA and publish them within the PU manufacturer.”
“If you’re just starting a four-year freeze, you know that the FIA won’t accept changes or performance improvements, so I think you have no choice but to use the best possible engine, but reliability. Fixes for the problem are acceptable “
F1 engine format has not changed since 2021 from the architectural point of view, but the biggest development is to switch to E10 fuel.
Still, Bruno Famin’s biggest problems with the latest F1 power units due to the effects of frequency changes, vibrations, extreme porpoising, etc. are the fundamental changes in the car, aerodynamics and tires as a package. I think it is.
“I think the new generation of cars with new chassis, the new aero, creates different levels of constraints on the car,” Bruno Famin explained.
“The car is very hard and very low. The porpoising we had had a pretty big impact on the road. Unfortunately, it wasn’t due to the ICE (internal combustion engine) itself, but to the components around it. , May have had some impact on the ICE:
“The ICE itself is very good. There are no problems with the ICE, but the fact that every car and everybody has about the same problem puts an impact on a new level of constraint. We are solving it. “
“On Jeddah’s problem with Fernando’s engine, we have already requested a change and it has been accepted by the FIA, and that change has already been made to Imola’s engine.”
Asked about a specific problem with Fernando Alonso’s engine at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Bruno Famin said, “Probably because of the impact, there was a problem with the water pump. The water pump broke down and the engine spun excessively.” I explained.
Category: Category: F1 / Alpine / Renault