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Formula 2 2024 season: Software error shapes Saudi Arabia F2 result
by Samarth Kanal
6min read
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RaceTeq delivers in-depth Formula 2 technology reports from every round of the 2024 championship, delving into the factors that ultimately decide victory. Saudi Arabia hosted the second round of the season.
Mecachrome supplies F2 with a V6, 3.4-litre engine. Image courtesy of FIA Formula 2 Championship
The first street race of the season provided a new challenge for the field and a markedly different set of results as the championship order shifted in Saudi Arabia.
How engine supplier Mecachrome is gearing up for biofuel and advanced fuel
Jeddah Corniche Circuit is the fastest street circuit in F2, where this year’s pole-sitter Ollie Bearman averaged a speed of 135mph through his fastest lap. With more than 70% of the lap spent on the throttle, the F2 engine is put under its biggest test in Saudi Arabia.
F2 engines are supplied by Mecachrome, a French firm that supplies automotive engine components to the likes of Renault, BMW, Maserati and Porsche, but has also supplied engine parts to the Alpine F1 Team.
The F2 engine is a V6, 3.4-litre single-turbo engine that produces up to 620 horsepower at 8,750rpm and 570Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. The championship has been using this engine since 2017, when the previous F2 chassis was unveiled. In 2023, however, the biggest change was the introduction of fuel of which 55% is bio-sourced and 45% is traditional hydrocarbons.
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The championship has been using this engine since 2017, when the previous F2 chassis was unveiled. Image courtesy of FIA Formula 2 Championship
Charles Leclerc inspecting the F2 engine in 2017, when this iteration was introduced
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“We believe strongly in the power of partnerships and, through our collaboration with F2 and F3, we aim to demonstrate the potential of liquid advanced fuels,” said Ahmad Al Khowaiter, Aramco Technology & Innovation executive vice president, who was chief technology officer at the time of the company’s announcement with F2 and F3.
“We are exploring practical solutions that could enable the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the transport sector, from lower-carbon fuels and more efficient engines to cutting-edge materials and carbon capture technology. By teaming up with F2 and F3 on this journey, we hope to make a positive impact by pursuing GHG emissions mitigation in motorsport and, ultimately, the broader transportation sector.”
Mecachrome’s CEO Christian Cornille explained that the engine has had to be modified to incorporate a higher biofuel component.
“The challenge is the injection system in the cylinders,” he said in an interview with F2.
By teaming up with F2 and F3 on this journey, we hope to make a positive impact by pursuing GHG emissions mitigation in motorsport and, ultimately, the broader transportation sector.
Ahmad Al Khowaiter
, Aramco Technology & Innovation vice president
Richard Verschoor (centre) was disqualified from the sprint race, which promoted Dennis Hauger (L) to victory ahead of Paul Aron (R)
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“This change of injection was the most significant challenge of the new regulations, but we succeeded in making it happen thanks to our design capabilities.
“Working together [with] Aramco and Formula Motorsport Limited [F2 and F3 sanctioning body], we’ve discovered a lot of things and had many difficulties but the fact that we started this journey in 2023 and will be continuing in 2024 and 2025, is a very, very efficient way to develop this new technology,” said Cornille.
An incorrect file download changes the sprint race result
A technical error from Trident changed the result of the first race of the F2 weekend when the stewards found that the cars of Richard Verschoor and his team-mate Roman Stanek (P10) “were found to have had an incorrect throttle pedal progressivity map installed prior to the race which was not in compliance with Article 8.2.6 of the Technical Regulations".In each F2 round, every F2 team is given the same throttle map – an instruction for how the throttle pedal can progress on race starts and formation laps – to ensure competitive parity and safety. This map is programmed to position one of the corresponding rotary knobs on the steering wheel. These throttle maps are mandatory for all F2 teams to download via a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). After formation laps and race starts, every team can use their own throttle maps.
Enzo Fittipaldi took his first F2 feature race victory in Saudi Arabia