Those whose driving styles naturally use less fuel will benefit around the Singapore street circuit as it is ranked amongst the highest in fuel consumption according to Renault.
That, combined with the ban on team radio calls about fuel usage and ways to save fuel such as ‘cost and lift’ could see the first race of the season in which fuel saving becomes a major priority.
“These short bursts of power naturally require good torque response and driveability but they also bring fuel consumption well up,” Renault’s head of track operations Remi Taffin explained.
“In fact we will use the largest amount of fuel per lap over the season here and we will be right on the limit of the 100kg permitted. To put this in context, last year we used 150kg of fuel – over 30% more. Here, more than anywhere else, shows the advances we have made in efficiency.”
The energy recovery systems, particuarly the MGU-K, will also be tested according to Taffin.
“The Energy Store and MGU-K are really put through their paces. Each braking event is long and hard, particularly around the ‘hotel’ section through the grandstands, where the K will be able to recover enough energy to keep the battery at a relatively high level of charge throughout the lap.
“In contrast, the MGU-H is used a little less as the short straights between the corners do not really offer ample time for the exhaust to develop a steady flow.”
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