New Shell fuel and lubricant for the Ferrari 2014 engine

To complement the new Ferrari engine, unveiled today in Maranello, Italy, Technical Partner Shell has developed a range of fuels, lubricants and fluids for the 2014 project. This latest step in Shell’s long-standing partnership with Ferrari has seen the pair tackle their most recent technical challenge with gusto.

Shell oil and fuel testing unit

Photo by: XPB Images

Speaking about the 2014 changes, Andrew Foulds, Shell Vice President Fuels Technology, commented: “FIA fuel and oil technical regulations remain unchanged in 2014, but the new engine’s appetite and power band is radically different from its predecessor, which has allowed us the freedom to explore and innovate in new areas. Of equal relevance to us as the change in engine configuration is the limit to the amount of fuel that can be used in each race. Finding a fuel that offers power and efficiency is of course the holy grail. Our development process has been on-going for a long time now and we are delighted with the performance gains and efficiency we have been able to find in the evolution of the fuel blends alone.”

The 2014 lubricant is also different from previous formulations.

Andrew continues: “Not only are we faced with a brand new engine and powertrain configuration in 2014 with the addition of a turbo, but also the power unit lifespan has been increased. With only five engines available to each driver each season there is a fine line between how hard we can push for performance whilst maintaining the reliability of which Shell is so proud. The Shell Helix Ultra formulations we are developing with Ferrari are pushing these boundaries and yielding vital information that will be exploited through our continual development activity for both racing and road applications.”

The V6 engine introduction heralds a new era in Formula One with all engine manufacturers adapting to new regulations with smaller V6 1.6 litre turbocharged engines replacing the established V8 2.4 litre power unit.

Richard Bracewell, Shell Global Sponsorships Manager, speaking at the event said, “A challenge of this magnitude is what we live for. This is not the first time Shell has worked together with Ferrari to meet new technical regulations in Formula One and I’m sure it will not be the last. Shell has been developing products in Formula One since 1950 and in that time has won over 160 races with Ferrari in a wide variety of engines. It is the strength of this Technical Partnership that allows us to continually develop fuels and lubricants ensuring that any technological advantage developed for Ferrari is passed directly through to the motorist.”

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