Although all Formula 1 circuits have their difficulties, Colapinto will have to prepare more than normal this week.
Franco Colapinto comes from having a very good weekend in the Formula 1 with Williams Racing. After finishing tenth in the table, he returned to score points for the English team and maintains intact its dream of having a seat in the premier category by 2025 despite the tough competition.
However, their next challenge is on the circuit on the weekend of October 26. He Mexican Grand Prixdeveloped in the Hermanos Rodriguez Autodromeis located at 2,200 meters altitude at sea level, reducing air density by 25% and presenting great physical and mechanical difficulty for the teams and drivers. However, there are several strategies to counteract this.
Franco Colapinto and James Vowles.avif
How altitude will affect Franco Colapinto and his Williams in the Mexican GP
For pilots, it means that the oxygen in each breath is lessforcing them to exert extra physical effort to compensate. Due to the lack of habit of the runners, a feeling of pain which includes dizziness, headache, chest pain and lack of energy. As for cars, the lower air density forces turbo engines to work harder. Although there is no significant loss of power, the turbochargers must work harder to maintain proper airflow. This overexertion generates greater wear.
Furthermore, altitude also rreduces the cooling capacity of the air. The brakes, engine, gearbox and other systems of single-seaters suffer the most from the lack of adequate cooling. This forces the teams to modify the air intakes. The same with aerodynamic issues because less load is generated, which explains why in Mexico cars can reach speeds of more than 350 km/h despite going with “slow track” settings like Singapore or Monaco.
rodriguez brothers autodromo
Another issue arising from the lack of downforce is that It also affects the grip of the tires. By having less grip, the Pirelli are subjected to greater stress and heat up more easily, while in cold conditions increases the risk of grainingsince they do not reach the appropriate temperature and fragment.
What solution did they find to make the car work well?
Above 1,500 meters of altitude, the capacity of a person not accustomed to altitude decreases because their body takes time to adapt to decreased oxygen. It takes between three or four weeks for an athlete to adapt their body to the altitude. Since that obviously cannot happen with Formula 1 drivers given their schedule, they adapt with light cardiovascular work and change their diet including a lot of iron or supplements during the week.
The solution implemented by different teams is to put a cooling package which is normally only used in very hot places. These modifications to the bodywork are a problem in terms of resistance, but as we said, since there is less air at the height of CDMX, it is also compensated there. Williams Racing the previous year redesigned the engine cover with a larger central outlet, and is expected to expand the sidepod grilles so that the air circulates more fluidly and does not brake the car too much.
Source: Ambito
