We have now had two seasons of the V6 turbocharged hybrid era in Formula One, and there are still quite a few critics of the concept. These power units – which have proven to be very costly financially has helped Mercedes to their sensational delivery of four World Championships in a very short space of time in a very dominant fashion. With the way that the regulations are, and with no viable solution to make it possible for other manufacturers to catch up, it would appear that we are in for more Mercedes dominance in the future unless Ferrari can do something about it. With criticism over the noise, the cost and just how technologically advanced these power units are in addition to the lack of interest from manufacturers, has the Formula One hybrid failed?
When these power units were introduced for the 2014 season, a wave of new engine manufacturers were linked with entering or re-entering Formula One. Since the end of the 2013 season, we have lost one manufacturer in Cosworth (supplying backmarkers Marussia) and we have gained just one manufacturer in Honda (supplying now-backmarkers McLaren). The likes of Audi and Lamborghini have both been strongly linked with supplying at least one team in Red Bull, but we are yet to see that. In the same time, the World Endurance Championship has four manufacturers in the LMP1 class alone (five including privateer supplier AER which is not hybrid) and the still relatively new all-electric Formula E series will have no less than nine manufacturers in place for the 2016-17 season.
Speaking of the LMP1 manufacturers, the power units developed by the F1 teams at the moment are less technologically advanced than those of Audi, Porsche and Toyota (and Nissan if the system works). They also develop less power, with the three main manufacturers targeting 1000bhp next season, whilst the F1 power units are still yet to attain that sort of figure. The reliability of the LMP1 power units is also something incredible. Nissan aside, the hybrids were able to run 24 hours straight at Le Mans with few problems. On the other end of the spectrum, Renault’s performance this season in F1 was almost embarrassing – underpowered and so very unreliable, despite having the same amount of time as Mercedes to perfect their power units. Honda’s performance was more miserable, but they gravely underestimated the challenge ahead.
The cost of the power units has put a lot of teams under threat too. F1 lost Caterham and Marussia (although the latter was revived) at the end of 2014 and a number of teams including Lotus, Sauber and Force India were clearly struggling financially at times between 2014 and today. Although that could well be in part down to the questionable distribution of prize money; the power units are far more expensive than the V8 engines ever were.
And what of the noise? I personally like the subtle tones and differences between each power unit as opposed to the lifeless V8 which was just a noise which was always dwarfed by the monstrous V10, but many seem to not be a fan at all. This is not an issue for me, but it appears to be an issue for many other fans.
So onto the racing, or what lack-of we have seen this year – with Mercedes streaks ahead and Honda’s failures so very much in the public eye, it is clear that not even the best of manufacturers would be able to come in and catch up the more than four years of work that Mercedes has put in overnight. And with these cars so dependent on aerodynamic grip and much more importantly the power unit and with no equalisation tools used in Formula One (and rightly so) but with so little innovation allowed because of the regulations, I fear Mercedes dominance unless drastic rule changes are implemented for 2017 regarding the power unit.
It was clear that F1 had to head down a new route for 2014. The V8s were certainly no longer an option – especially with some of the few manufacturers there threatening to leave if F1 did not go down a more exciting route. Whilst these turbo hybrid power units are clearly very good, hugely powerful and a slightly ‘greener’ way of going about things which has translated onto some of the most exciting supercars and racing cars around, the Formula One hybrid solution has perhaps been somewhat disappointing in comparison to other solutions of going about things.
