Are Red Bull to blame for alternator failures?
20 September, 2012
Sep.20 (GMM) According to a report just released, the specific design of Red Bull’s RB8 car could be the reason behind its Magneti Marelli-Renault alternator failures which have led to several DNFs this season.
With team owner Dietrich Mateschitz calling on engine supplier Renault to dump its alternator partner Magneti Marelli, the Kolner Express tabloid has said that Adrian Newey’s chassis design could be the real problem.
Although Renault also supplies engines to Lotus, Williams and Caterham, the lion’s share of the alternator problems have been suffered by Red Bull.
‘Express’ said that the problem could be the narrow construction at the back of the RB8.
A source is quoted as saying: “In other Renault cars, the alternator works perfectly. For the problems encountered by Red Bull, something is failing due to an external influence, which leads to overheating.”
Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko said: “Unfortunately we don’t know the exact reasons for the defects. But we are unable to influence it from the chassis side.”
Subbed by AJN.
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- Renault investigate alternator problem which struck Vettel and Grosjean
- Magneti Marelli offers F1 KERS for US $1m
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The FIA is actually to blame for 100% of charging system failures and stalled cars during the race. Why? FIA rules block the use of the KERS system to replace the alternator. In fact, the KERS system could also be used to start the cars, getting rid of the antiquated external starter mess and stalled cars on track. The silliness of F1, touting its interest in leading technology, while applying it within a narrow definition that exposes it as nothing more than a passing aid for entertainment, is not adopting true innovative systems at all> This makes the entire sport look silly. Hopefully all that goes away with the 2014 format?? Yeah right… And HRT has a chance to win the WCC championship one day before oil has become a distant memory.
Red Bull’s Dr. Helmut Marko said: “Unfortunately we don’t know the exact reasons for the defects.”
This man always has an excuse instead of admitting the bs.
First he dumps the alternators company, doesn’t suggest that other should because there design must be more encouraging to utilize, then he says “we dont know the exact problem” after he mentions it may be the Adrian Newey design could be the reason of the over heating. Lotus has it right…look else where Marko… and stop the excuses.
get in there commenter, its obviously renaults fault. if a source is actually stated to be “a source” rather than the name of said source, then its instantly bull.
The article is total rubbish. The statement that in “All other Renault cars the alternator has performed perfectly”, is simply wrong. First 50% of failures were in two other Renault powered cars, including the Lotus and Pirelli test car, not including the Petrov failure in pre-season tests. Since there have been no failures in any other engine formats, this is a statistically significant number indicating their is a problem with the Renault part. If this was a RB chassis design, their would be failures in Weber’s car at a similar rate to Vettel’s which is not the case at all. Also, Red Bull has added a direct cooling duct from the side pod to the alternator to feed fresh air direct to the part, yet the failure’s continue. Finally, 3 of the 4 alternators used in F1 are water cooled – the Renault part is the only one still air cooled.