How Formula 1 Manages Energy with Harvesting and Deployment
At the heart of every Formula 1 car beats an incredibly complex hybrid power unit. Its performance does not depend solely on raw power, but on precisely managing a precious resource: electrical energy. Two opposing but complementary processes, harvesting and deployment, define this technological battle. 🏎️⚡
Recovering Energy: The Art of Harvesting
Harvesting is the constant process of capturing energy that would otherwise be lost. Engineers recover this power from two main sources integrated into the car.
Key Harvesting Sources:- MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit – Heat): Connected to the turbocharger, it transforms residual heat from the exhaust gases into electricity. This mitigates turbo lag and generates energy.
- MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic): Coupled to the rear axle, it works as a generator when braking. It converts the car's kinetic energy during braking into usable electrical energy.
- High-Performance Battery: All the electricity generated is stored here, creating a strategic reservoir for key moments in the race.
The biggest dilemma for a driver is sometimes not when to brake, but when to stop braking so they can brake more and thus store more energy to accelerate later.
Releasing Power: Deployment Control
Once stored, the energy is under the driver's command. Deployment refers to releasing this electrical reserve to propel the car, a tactical decision that can change the outcome of an overtake or the defense of a position. 🔋➡️🏁
How Deployment Works:- Steering Wheel Control: The driver activates the energy release through specific buttons on their multifunctional steering wheel, deciding the exact moment.
- MGU-K as Motor: When activated, the system sends energy from the battery to the MGU-K, which now operates as a powerful electric motor that complements the combustion engine.
- Extra Boost (Push-to-Pass): This injection of electrical power provides a crucial horsepower increase, known as the boost for overtaking.
Real-Time Strategy
This cycle of recovering and using energy is dynamic. The engineers