From Renault Sport
After two superquick ‘power tracks’ where top speed was crucial and a high percentage of the lap spent at full throttle, the FIA Formula One World Championship shifts down tempo to the streets of the Marina Bay and the Singapore Grand Prix.
With an average speed of just 168kph, engine maps are designed to target driveability through the lower revs. Since Singapore requires a high downforce set-up Renault Sport F1 will also work to optimise the use of off throttle exhaust gases to help its chassis partners maximise aerodynamic grip throughout the lap.
Singapore’s Marina Bay circuit has 23 corners, only Valencia has more on the F1 calendar. Of those 23 corners, 10 are taken in second or first, 7 in third and only 1 is taken in fourth gear, which means that the engine is working at between 8,000rpm and 13,000rpm for the majority of the corners.
Corners 3, 8, 13 and 14 are particularly indicative of this low rev, low speed track. As a result, the focus is on creating maps that allow the engine to be very driveable into and out of corners.
With only two real long straights, the pit straight and then the curved straight between turns five and seven, seventh gear will only be engaged three times per lap. This means the engine has little time to ‘cool down.’
While temperatures during the night are typically lower than during the day (between 5 and 6°C colder), the relative humidity varies very little and can be over 90%, even without rain.
Only 46% of the lap is spent at full throttle in Singapore. Last year the highest speed peaked at just 295kph, between turns 5 and 7, but this year with the DRS it’s expected to be as high as 305kph. The average speed is however just 168kph as opposed to Monza’s 250kph. There are also 82 gear changes per lap as opposed to just 52 in Monaco and just 44 in Monza.
With lots of corners, low speed and high downforce, fuel consumption per km is one of the highest of the year. Getting the right balance of an ample fuel load to finish the race (taking into account the increased risk of safety cars and any weather changes) without running out of fuel at the end of the race is a huge challenge.
After two superquick ‘power tracks’ where top speed was crucial and a high percentage of the lap spent at full throttle, the FIA Formula One World Championship shifts down tempo to the streets of the Marina Bay and the Singapore Grand Prix.
With an average speed of just 168kph, engine maps are designed to target driveability through the lower revs. Since Singapore requires a high downforce set-up Renault Sport F1 will also work to optimise the use of off throttle exhaust gases to help its chassis partners maximise aerodynamic grip throughout the lap.
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| Bruno Senna, Lotus Renault GP. (Photo: WRi2) |
Singapore’s Marina Bay circuit has 23 corners, only Valencia has more on the F1 calendar. Of those 23 corners, 10 are taken in second or first, 7 in third and only 1 is taken in fourth gear, which means that the engine is working at between 8,000rpm and 13,000rpm for the majority of the corners.
Corners 3, 8, 13 and 14 are particularly indicative of this low rev, low speed track. As a result, the focus is on creating maps that allow the engine to be very driveable into and out of corners.
With only two real long straights, the pit straight and then the curved straight between turns five and seven, seventh gear will only be engaged three times per lap. This means the engine has little time to ‘cool down.’
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While temperatures during the night are typically lower than during the day (between 5 and 6°C colder), the relative humidity varies very little and can be over 90%, even without rain.
Only 46% of the lap is spent at full throttle in Singapore. Last year the highest speed peaked at just 295kph, between turns 5 and 7, but this year with the DRS it’s expected to be as high as 305kph. The average speed is however just 168kph as opposed to Monza’s 250kph. There are also 82 gear changes per lap as opposed to just 52 in Monaco and just 44 in Monza.
With lots of corners, low speed and high downforce, fuel consumption per km is one of the highest of the year. Getting the right balance of an ample fuel load to finish the race (taking into account the increased risk of safety cars and any weather changes) without running out of fuel at the end of the race is a huge challenge.
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| Mark Webber, Red Bull. (Photo: WRi2) |