According to Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing’s motorsport adviser, popping is the cause of the fuel leak problem that hit Max Verstappen at the F1 Round 3 Australian Grand Prix. The vibration may have damaged the fuel line.
Verstappen was running second behind Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) towards the end of the race, but was in trouble and was forced to retire for the second time this season after the opening Bahrain. The defective parts were sent to HRD Sakura, a Honda factory in Tochigi prefecture, for investigation and analysis.
A small flame broke out and Marshall fire extinguished, but fortunately the Red Bull Powertrains (Honda) engine was not damaged and the team plans to continue using the same individual after Round 4 Emilia Romagna GP. ..
In an interview with the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, Marco said that “the engine is perfectly fine” and that Honda is expected to take measures by the next race in Imola.
Regarding the cause of the trouble, metal corrosion and resin swelling are suspected first because of the new introduction of E10 fuel, but this is a known problem, especially the experience with IndyCar that preceded the introduction of alcohol fuel. It is unlikely that the abundant Honda will make a rudimentary blunder, and in fact Marco explained that it was a “very complicated” problem, although he revealed that he had identified the problem after the race.
Former F1 driver Marc Surer said in an interview with Formula 1 that “it may just have been” sloppy “assembled,” as Sergio Perez, who was driving another RB18, completed the race. He mentioned that it could have been caused by Red Bull’s sloppy work, but it seems that aerodynamic bouncing was actually the trigger.
“The rupture of the high-pressure fuel line is the cause (of retirement), probably due to bouncing,” Marco explained. Indeed, if popping is the cause, the point is that it is a “very complicated problem”.
Although the Red Bull RB18’s popping is lighter than Mercedes and Ferrari and seems to be well controlled when compared to its rivals, Marco said it was “still a little moving” and “this is the main cause of fuel pipe damage.” I think. “
I just hope that similar troubles will not occur after Imola, but if the cause is popping, it is unclear whether Honda’s measures such as reinforcement of the fuel line can completely prevent the recurrence. ..
Perez was able to safely reach the podium in 2nd place in the race at Albert Park Circuit, but this may be one of the reasons why he did not suffer from a similar accident because he hinted that the setup was different from Verstappen. There seems to be sex.