Alain Prost on turbo V6s: “We will have to be quick and sensitive”

During his rich career, Alain Prost has known turbo engines. Which gives it complete legitimacy when it comes to discussing the future hybrid 6L V1.6 turbo engine which will equip all teams next year. Today brand ambassador Renault, which presented its new V6 for 2014 on Friday, the quadruple world champion of Formula 1 explains what he thinks is likely to change for the sport.

Out of the question, first of all, to draw a parallel with the turbo engines of the 80s, characterized by response times ranging from 2 to 3 seconds. “When we measure today?s global technological developments in automobiles in general and F1 in particular, it is clear that the turbo engines of tomorrow will be very different”, he specifies. “ Particularly because there will be an electrical part which generates power. The response time is not yet known precisely, but it will be very low compared to what we experienced in the 80s.”

Whatever happens, the drivers will have to adapt to this new block. “There will be a tiny delay in response time. I imagine that it will probably be very weak next year, but we will still have to get used to it. But we also have to look further than the turbo: the interaction between the thermal energy part and the electrical part will also be very complex. The thermal part represents around 600 horsepower, the electrical part 160, so energy management will be much more important than in the atmospheric era. »

A redressed balance

For Alain Prost, this new parameter to manage will profoundly change the way in which drivers will have to approach their races and their attacks. “There will be the operation of the engine by the engineers and pilots and all the energy use strategies that result from this. In fact we are going back to the time when the pilot had to be strategic and know how to use his skill very well. car. It will no longer be enough to be fast; you will have to be quick and sensitive. » In short, the engine would be on the verge of regaining capital importance, continues the man with 51 victories. “From the moment the engines are frozen, we give back the importance to the chassis and aerodynamics. From 2014 this balance will be redressed and we will have a very interesting technical side which will restore importance to the engine. The best integration will bear fruit and the innovations will be thanks to good collaboration between the chassis and engine departments. » As “The Professor” says: “On paper, it looks perfect.”