Source: REUTERS/AMANDA PEROBELLI
[Saba Sports News] Twenty years ago, the lifespan
of F1 engines, specifically the V10 engines, was considerably shorter compared
to today’s engines. The primary reason for this was the higher stress and
strain placed on the engines due to their design and operating conditions.
During that time, the V10 engines were at the forefront of internal combustion
engine technology, representing the pinnacle of materials and engineering
mechanics. However, their lifespan was only around one-eighth or even one-tenth
of the current engines used in F1. Today’s engines need to last for a minimum
of eight grand prix races, including practice sessions, with a total mileage of
around 3,000 kilometers. In the past, F1 engines were primarily focused on meeting
the requirements of the races themselves, with no limitations on the number of
engines used. Some wealthier teams even had engines specifically designated for
qualifying sessions. In 2004, the FIA implemented a curfew to prevent unfair
competition, which restricted teams from changing engines after qualifying. To
increase power in an engine, there are two main approaches: increasing torque
or increasing speed. However, when displacement is limited, increasing torque
becomes challenging. Therefore, engine suppliers focused on maximizing speed.
This led to engines from twenty years ago easily exceeding 19,000 rpm.
Achieving these high speeds involved using pistons with shorter strokes.
However, the consequence of such high-speed operation was accelerated wear on
piston rings and other engine components, pushing them to the brink of failure
over time. These factors combined to result in the shorter lifespan of F1
engines from twenty years ago, as they operated under extreme stress and strain
due to their high-speed nature and the pursuit of increased power.