Flying Finn

This has been the "talk" for couple of weeks but now the decision is getting closer, it will be tough decision for Ferrari boys on Friday or Saturday. Otherwise it would be easier but since the 3rd race will be in Bahrain (which is very tough for engine and everyone would like to have fresh engine there).
In either case, Kimi might be screwed: engine will blow this weekend or if it's fresh for this race, it will blow in Bahrain...
They (Kimi & Ferrari) don't need this!

Oh, an those who again say it Kimi's fault. It's not, his engine had a small water leak in Australia that caused slight over heating (even though Kimi took it easy trying to cool it) and now is a concern.

kev

Personally I would replace the engine. Kimi starting in P10 can still score points and probably even get on the podium.

I will reserve judgement on whether it is Kimi's fault or not, with his track record.

BrianKeithSmith

I'm thinking that I'm missing something here - probably a rule...

Are they required to use an engine for a certain number of races? If so, I did not know that. What are the details of the rule?

Brian

ltc

Engine must be used for 2 race weekends (ignoring the Friday 'test' car).
IIRC, they want to expand that further in the future to 3-4 races.

Skip Wolfe

An engine has to last two races. If they have to change an enginer out between races after only one race, they get a 10 spt penalty.

BrianKeithSmith

Gotcha. I thought it was 1 race... Learned something new....
When did that go into effect?

multi21

A couple years ago

ilko

Given the information we have, I would just use the fresh engine and take my chances. The old engine overheated and the odds are that it will not last for the qualifying session and race. With a new engine Kimi would at least have a chance to finish and get some points.

Cory M

I'd like to be a fly on the wall in Ferrari's engine design offices right now! It would be really interesting to see what methods they are using to determine life of the engine, which part they believe will fail first, etc.

1AS

If the leak is not repairable, don't they have to change engines? I don't see how you could take it easy in qualifying and expect to score points, and the same applies if he has to take it easy the entire race.
He could qualify with the old engine, see if it is intact and makes power, and swap engines if there is any doubt. Alternatively, if they think they will qualify better with the new engine, just put it in and qualify, as he might be giving up 3 or more grid spots with the old enjine.
Since my leaky race engines have never stopped leaking absent dissassembly and repair, I would guess a new engine and a penalty. AS

ilko

Yeah, I'm sure they have a computer sensor in every piece of metal and every gasket that goes on the engine. I would like to see a new rule implemented where engines need to last longer.

Flying Finn

It would definately be interesting to be that fly on the wall, they have basically been thinking of this for 2+ weeks and still haven't made the decision.

They can repair the leak but the problem is whether the engine was dmaged too much or not.

The decision would be a lot easier if the next race wasn't hot and brutal Bahrain, then you'd just change the engine and since Malaysia has some passing opportunities, count on Kimi's passing. For the next race you'd be ok but since it's Bahrain, you pretty much would like to have a fresh engine there.

Cory M

I design engines for a living so I can imagine some of the work they are doing to estimate the life left in the parts, they probably have some complicated material models and probablilistic lifing methodology. I bet their methods are saying that the engine will fail - and they don't like that answer so they have told their engineers to sharpen their pencils and see if there is anywhere in their lifing that they are being conservative. No engineer wants to be responsible for a failure and engineers are conservative by nature but a decision has to be made. Ultimately after all of the dust has settled and the data has been post processed and reviewed - you make your best guess and hope you're right.

ltc

Why do I picutre Ron Dennis reading this thread and laughing?
If it weren't for bad luck, Kimi would have no luck.

Flying Finn

+1