Ferrari is nearly there. The 2025 System 1 season is about to start, and as at all times throughout this time of yr, probably the most attention-grabbing traditions is the primary ignition of the facility models. All groups do it, offering a preview of the sound of the present 1.6-liter turbo V6 engines. This course of is technically generally known as a “fireplace up.” The groups share, via their official communication channels, the roar of the engines within the presence of workforce members, who watch with satisfaction as their efforts come to fruition with the engine mounted on the brand new single-seater.
This is a crucial and important milestone for the groups, because it basically marks the conclusion of the design part of the brand new automobile. Given the event freeze on hybrid turbo engines since September 2022, as mandated by the Worldwide Federation, this ritual may appear redundant. In actuality, it requires a extremely complicated preparation course of that inevitably impacts all parts of the facility unit. Earlier than igniting the engine, engineers should full a number of duties.
Amongst these, crucial are the examinations that technicians should perform, checking all of the parameters associated to the assorted parts of the facility unit and the automobile. Solely when all indicators meet the required standards inside the desired vary is the engine began. It’s a delicate but liberating operation that formally kicks off the System 1 season. Among the many groups which have already performed the primary check on their energy unit is Ferrari, making it an thought second for us to take a better have a look at the work finished by the Maranello engineers and technicians in current months.
The Prancing Horse has adopted an in depth guidelines required for beginning an F1 engine to stop injury to its rotating elements and related parts. That is finished whereas making certain that the battery pack, specifically the power retailer, is totally charged earlier than ignition. Through the startup part, the engineers’ computer systems are related to the engine management unit with a view to monitor the parameters of all energy unit parts. The subsequent step is bringing the facility unit to a selected temperature.
This happens even earlier than the engine begins working. The ICE, or inside combustion engine, is heated by a specifically designed exterior pump that circulates heat coolant inside it. The reason being easy: it’s crucial to stop abrasion of the shifting parts. The engine is heated to about 80 levels celsius utilizing an exterior pump. At this stage, compressed air can also be launched to compensate for potential losses within the pneumatic valve system.
When each the engine and the oil have reached the optimum temperature, the engine nonetheless can’t be began as a result of its inside parts aren’t but lubricated. Ferrari used an electrical starter to introduce lubricant into the circuit, making certain circulation inside the inside combustion engine. This step ensures that pistons, piston rings, bearings, connecting rods, and different inside parts are lined with a skinny layer of oil. As soon as the working temperatures and pressures have been optimum, the V6 engine of the Ferrari roared to life, delighting the ears of these current on the sporting headquarters.
The all-red System 1 engine was began utilizing a easy and sensible starter motor underneath the shut supervision of specialists led by Italian engineer Enrico Gualtieri, who’s at present serving as head of energy unit for Scuderia Ferrari. The Italian engineer meticulously monitored the whole process to attain the set goal. The engine idled—one solely must hearken to the audio launched on Ferrari’s social media channels to verify this. It ran at round 3,000–4,000 rpm. The water temperature initially dropped to 60 levels celsius (as a result of circulation within the cooling system) earlier than rapidly rising again to roughly 80 levels celsius inside a number of seconds.
Attentive readers could have seen the brand new designation of the Italian engine. In keeping with data reported by varied well-trusted Italian information media retailers, the facility unit homologated for the 2025 System 1 racing season needs to be named 066/15. That is the final energy unit from the Italian workforce earlier than the technical revolution that can drastically change engine structure ranging from the 2026 F1 season. The strict rules imposed by the governing physique have frozen the event of the core parts of hybrid turbo models.
However, the set of modifications allowed by the rules consists of a number of points—secondary, maybe, however nonetheless able to enhancing engine efficiency, each technically and by way of effectivity and reliability. Some strategic changes also can affect the aerodynamic setup of the venture. From what we all know, Ferrari has carried out exact fine-tuning on varied parts, with the clear aim of creating the facility unit that can drive the 2 SF-25 vehicles within the upcoming world championship much more efficient.
Ferrari has modified some exterior parts associated to the temperature administration system—an space the place the Maranello workforce realized it may extract further efficiency potential, additionally contemplating the brand new aerodynamic configuration of the automobile. Like different elements of the car, the Italian workforce has labored laborious to refine its strengths, and the 066/15 energy unit shall be certainly one of them. In any case, we all know how a lot of a distinction an engine could make by way of qualifying efficiency, with an influence increase, or over a 300 kilometer race distance via improved effectivity and lowered gasoline consumption.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
