A minor problem with Carlos Sainz’s power unit required the mechanics of the Spanish driver to intervene in the Silverstone garage earlier today by detaching the engine from the SF-23 chassis. The operation took about forty minutes, during which our Giorgio Piola was able to capture the Ferrari 066/7 6-cylinder engine in a truly unusual view that certainly won’t please Enrico Gualtieri’s team of engine specialists.
In the snapshot, you can observe the large carbon ducts that supply fresh air to the two plenums, the large ‘lungs’ of the fuel system, from the heat exchanger. You can also see the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, with the camshaft covers visible for each bank. The packaging of the accessories is impressive and the result of meticulous and careful study: each component is a piece of a very complex puzzle that must take into account a series of factors such as weight, temperature, and accessibility. The shorter the channels, the more space can be gained and mass reduced, which benefits performance.
Hot components cannot be located near electronic parts, and details that require periodic checks should not be “buried” in inaccessible spaces. The rationalization of packaging is extremely important because it allows for a streamlined power unit, benefiting the aerodynamics of the engine cover, as well as the efficiency of the rear wing and beam wing.
The Prancing Horse’s power unit has proven to be very competitive this year. The concerns do not arise so much from the power, which is on par with the Honda power unit, but rather from its reliability. The failure of the engine on Nico Hülkenberg’s Haas at the Red Bull Ring in the Austrian Grand Prix was worrying. The German driver had just fitted the third engine of the season out of the four allowed this year, and it broke during its first Grand Prix, when it should ensure a lifespan of at least seven events.
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