This is how F1 cars were added within a few seconds (before it was forbidden) – Jalopnik

It is 15 years since the Formula 1 Tank Tank in the race forbade and required that each car started every Grand Prix with sufficient fuel to complete the entire distance. Before the prohibition, F1 teams came together in a single extravagant solution to refuel cars in seconds: initially conceived equipment put under pressure to fill the massive tanks on commercial aircraft. Although incredibly efficient, the rigs occasionally led to fiery incidents in the Pitlane when the stops went wrong.

Brabham introduced modern refueling in F1 during the 1982 season. It was a strategy that Gordon Murray conceived to find a competitive advantage at the peak of the first turbo era of the world championship. At that time, the 1,279 pound minimum weight regulations were responsible for the fuel and other liquids that were loaded in the car. Murray theoretized correctly that the Brabham BT50 could be weighed with a full tank and then take the start with only enough fuel to get a tank stop halfway. The BT50 could spend the entire race on a lighter weight and have the possibility to run with a higher boost pressure.

Although Brabham did not win any race in 1982, the clear advantage that refueling created, every leading team led to following the strategy in 1983. Brabham was still able to take advantage of his built -up experience when the Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet of the team won three races and the world championship. The sport administrative body, however, banned refueling and introduced a fixed fuel tank capacity in 1984, referring to incidents during stops.

The most dangerous problem of the second modern fuel era was a driver who still pulled out of the pit box with the fuel hose confirmed. Fuel was the last that drivers had to wait for, so it was not unusual that they unintentionally got the green light when the other crew members withdrew from the car.

It happened twice during the two previous seasons. Ferrari’s Felipe Massa left too quickly during the Grand Prix of Singapore 2008. A year later Heikki Kovalainen did the same with his McLaren in Brazil, except the fuel -sprayed countryman Kimi Räikkönen and his Ferrari before he was inflamed by the hot car. According to Crash.netRäikkönen ended the race, but admitted that he was briefly blinded by the flames.

Pitstops are much safer today. Tires are today the primary restriction on pit-stop times in F1. If something goes wrong, it is usually a long pit stop because of a wheel gun problem or a driver takes off their pit box without a wheel attaching. Although F1 could return refueling with the systems used by gravity that are used in Endurance Racing and Indycar, I doubt whether someone wants to see the Sub-three second pit stops disappear.

A decade later, the FIA ​​would re -introduce in a more regulated environment to add a low strategic intrigues for fans. The teams in 1994 received the refueling of Rigs from Intertechnique, a supplier of French aviation equipment. According to F1 Technical Expert Craig ScarboroughThe rigs pumped in fuel at a speed of 12 liters per second. For comparison: the pump pump in the US in the US has an EPA-mandated maximum of 0.63 liters per second. With such a high flow rate, the mouthpiece had an integrated breathing break to air air out of the tank while their gasoline was pressed.

In 2010, refueling would be banned again due to cost problems, safety risks and the desire to create more Op-track promotion for fans. In the aftermath of the large recession, F1 was desperate to save costs. In a TV vignette from 2006 (to be seen above), Red Bull Racing explained that six people were needed to operate the tank installation. A tank ban not only eliminated the costs of the system, but also the staff needed to operate it.