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Ferrari Technical Partnership
Motor oil is critical. The very lifeblood of the engine, the reliable running of the Formula One car would not be possible without this oil. The tailored blend of Shell Helix gives exactly the right level of cleansing and protection whilst maximising the power output of the engine.
One of the key aspects of the Shell Formula One programme is the up-to-the-minute analysis in the trackside laboratory - this means that Shell can see how their engine lubricant performs all through its life in the Ferrari Formula One engine.
The Shell Track Lab is located within the Ferrari race transporters. It is here that Shell analysts conduct more than 40 tests per weekend on the Shell Helix race lubricant , to ensure that the drivers will be able to get peak performance at all times.
These tests employ a RDE (rotating disc electrode) oil analyser which uses a technique called Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES) to analyse the metallic wear particles held in suspension in the oil. This allows the Shell analysts to tell Ferrari if there is abnormal wear taking place without having to inspect the engine itself.
Staffed by up to four Shell analysts you can really think of this as a health check for the car - a particularly important role with the new FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) regulations enforcing the use of only eight engines per driver/season. The racing engine now has a maximum life of three races or about 2,500 km - almost twice the distance required of the engine in 2008.
"Engine lubricant is even more critical in 2009 due to the regulation changes," explains Shell Technology Manager for Ferrari, Dr Lisa Lilley. "The eight engines can be used in any order and at any number of races so the Shell Helix Ultra racing oil will have to provide the right level of protection both on the track and while the engines are in storage between races."
Shell Helix Ultra is primarily designed to protect all the moving parts that rub together from mechanical wear. The oil is fed to the bearings of the camshafts, thereby minimising wear caused by friction and enhancing the engine's reliability. The engine speed is now limited to 18,000rpm (revolutions per minute), but the conditions under which Shell Helix Ultra runs through the Ferrari engine remain extremely demanding.
"The piston of a Formula One engine has a mean speed of about 25 metres per second and the oil has to travel at least that fast to ensure complete lubrication of the cylinder. The enormous forces required to open the valves quickly enough at 18,000rpm must also be transmitted through a lubricant, effectively and without failure", explains Shell Formula One Lubricants Development Project Leader, Mark Wakem.