Behind a single-seater on observe lies a particularly advanced world of expertise, technicians, and engineers. Components 1 and Components E share a number of points but additionally signify two utterly totally different classes in how they conceive car improvement, each because of the nature of the vehicles themselves and a few financial constraints.
In Components 1, for instance, whereas remaining throughout the regulatory quantity limits, groups have important design freedom on the aerodynamic and chassis fronts, permitting them to discover totally different ideas from group to group. Conversely, in Components E, it was determined to depend on a single producer for aerodynamics and chassis, leaving extra room for powertrain improvement.
It’s exactly within the powertrain area {that a} central distinction emerges within the method to improvement. Earlier than the freeze on present models, Components 1 allowed steady improvement of each {hardware} and software program, for each the interior combustion and electrical elements, making important efficiency leaps potential even throughout the season.
Why FE focuses on software program
Conversely, in FE, improvement is split into two approaches: {hardware} improvement is proscribed to a two-year cycle, whereas software program improvement is totally unrestricted. On the {hardware} facet, as soon as the unit has been homologated, elements can’t be modified for the subsequent two seasons, not less than till the car’s evolution is launched. This additionally permits producers to homologate a brand new powertrain that may endure one other two-year cycle.
Nonetheless, whereas {hardware} improvement follows a cyclical sample to assist comprise prices in a financially sustainable sequence—the place the annual finances per group is capped at round €15 million in comparison with Components 1’s present €140 million—the actual battleground in Components E is software program, which is arguably extra immediately related to the automotive trade.
In Components 1, till the freeze in 2022, groups had been allowed 5 updates per season for the ability unit software program linked to the ECU, in addition to for the ERS and management unit purposes. Since 2023, just one software program model per season has been permitted. As soon as the database is about, groups can regulate its utilization primarily based on observe layouts and particular wants. Nonetheless, the core software program stays unchanged, with uncommon alternatives for updates.
In distinction, in Components E, given the FIA-imposed limitations on {hardware} improvement, there may be important freedom in software program, which producers sometimes replace each two to a few races after a validation part within the simulator. It is a essential side for a number of causes: first, as seen prior to now two years, it permits important progress within the standings, and second, because of the nature of the vehicles themselves.
Software program improvement improves effectivity
In Components E, effectivity is essential. Every automotive has a set quantity of vitality to finish the ePrix, however a part of that vitality doesn’t come from the battery; reasonably, it’s recovered throughout braking. The extra environment friendly a automotive is at managing vitality restoration and cost, the better the benefit it beneficial properties.
Improvement additionally revolves round how the system recovers vitality throughout braking or elevate and coast, requiring shut collaboration with the driving force’s preferences. Moreover, software program influences how vitality is deployed and impacts the automotive’s stability.
It’s no coincidence that after being developed in specialised departments, software program is validated by drivers within the simulator to evaluate not solely its effectiveness but additionally its affect on car habits. In FE, software program improvement is twofold: whereas the bottom software program is designed by the powertrain producer, buyer groups may also modify it.
Sometimes, past the fastened framework set by the producer for system operation, buyer groups have entry to change 10 to fifteen% of the code for personalization. This will likely look like a small margin, but it surely impacts crucial points equivalent to vitality restoration parameters, which is why buyer groups can typically problem the producer’s efficiency.
Software program will probably be a key think about F1 once more from 2026
In F1, software program improvement is at the moment restricted by laws, however from 2026 it is going to turn into a key side as soon as once more. This isn’t solely as a result of vitality administration will turn into considerably extra advanced, as beforehand analyzed, but additionally as a result of groups will probably be allowed to replace software program a number of instances throughout the season.
From 2026, every producer will probably be permitted to make use of 5 totally different software program variations per season, reducing to 4 in 2027 and three from 2028 onward. Because of the very nature of the long run energy models, which can eradicate the MGU-H, groups might undertake vastly totally different vitality deployment methods all through a lap, with various acceleration curves relying on whether or not they prioritize higher acceleration or a unique vitality distribution.
With the 2026 laws making {the electrical} part the focus—the place energy output is cut up 50/50 between the interior combustion engine and the electrical system—vitality administration will turn into a crucial issue, and extra environment friendly software program might make a decisive distinction. This is not going to solely contain software program improvement for bettering CFD fashions or car habits within the simulator however, maybe most significantly, for optimizing the administration of future energy models.
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