(Motorsport-Total.com) – The current heatwave in Europe also does not stop before the Austrian Grand Prix. Nevertheless, the Racing Bulls garage is refraining from using fans. This was explained by Managing Director Peter Bayer on Sky.
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When asked if the Managing Director of the Junior Bulls would get an air-conditioned spot, the 55-year-old’s answer was: “No, we don’t.”
“I complained yesterday,” Bayer says. “At the front of the pit wall, it is air-conditioned. We have turned off the fans here because [they] would interfere with the aerodynamic sensors. That [would] upset the balance of the car,” he explained. “That’s why we sweat for the team.”
Williams handles the situation differently. “At some hot races,” says James Vowles, “we have air conditioning in the garage. I know it sounds crazy because it is open. But it makes a huge difference for the team.”
“Here we simply use large fans,” explains the Williams team principal. “But that’s enough. In Austria, it is warm, but not unpleasant. This is pleasantly warm. In Singapore, it is warm and unpleasant.”
Despite the decision against fans, Bayer is aware of the big challenge for teams and drivers. “Of course, we are struggling with it,” the Managing Director explains on the Sky microphone. “It starts with the fact that the physical strain on the drivers is significantly greater than in a normal race.”
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“The FIA has issued this [heat alert],” Bayer continues. Therefore, cooling systems are used for the drivers, although according to the Managing Director, these do not last over an entire race distance.
As a result of the heat warning, drivers are either required to wear a cooling vest or – if they choose not to – to add 0.5 kilograms of ballast in the cockpit area.
Strategically, Bayer brings up higher tire wear and a resulting two-stop strategy. “For us, [the brakes] were a topic yesterday,” he adds on Sky. “We looked at it a bit overnight, also in the simulator.”
“We believe,” says Bayer, “that we can correct that through settings. Cooling was less of an issue for us. You can also see this large intake here. At some events at the start of the season, we actually had the problem that we overcooled. That naturally helps us now in the race like here.”
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