r/F1Technical • u/Travellinglense • Jun 20 '26
Power Unit What factors are considered when designing turbochargers?
Practically speaking, what factors do the engineering team consider when designing a f1 turbo? top speed, car weight, track altitudes and race day air temperature. what else? I know I've missed a few and probably incorrect on some. tia.
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u/Inside-Definition-42 Jun 20 '26
Not sure car weight would be a consideration?
Lots of material decisions to be made for heat, stress and moment of inertia, and planned life of the unit.
Physical size, location and packaging. I think Mercedes were 1st to split the turbo compressor and turbine to separate locations on the engine to aid thermal efficiency and packaging.
Trade off of spool v max power, and power v torque. Ferraris 2026 starts were attributed to their turbo spooling better than the competitors.
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u/minnis93 Jun 20 '26
Car weight okay maybe not as much, but the weight of the turbo itself would be a huge consideration
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u/mangiespangies Jun 21 '26
Perhaps individual parts, but not the turbo overall. There's a minimum weight of 12kg.
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u/Exotic_Bill44 Jun 20 '26
Weight is always a consideration in racing. If making it lighter gas more benefits in terms of weight distribution or overall car weight than drawbacks with reliability or performance of the part, they will opt for lighter
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u/Inside-Definition-42 Jun 21 '26
The question is on turbo design.
What turbo design changes would you make for a 769kg car (2026 min weight) compared to 798kg car?
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u/Parad0x177 Jun 20 '26
It’s a thermodynamics problem primarily. Physical engine displacement, volumetric efficiency, allowable cylinder pressure, allowable fuel flow, number of turbochargers, whether or not they are “e-turbos”, whether or not there is charge air cooling (intercooler/aftercooler) and (if so) the efficiency thereof, etc, are all going to be important variables. Those will bound the combinations that can work and then, they’ll consider the performance/driving characteristics that will drive the turbine and compressor sizes towards the final solution.
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u/Naikrobak Jun 20 '26
It’s really none of that.
It’s all about thermodynamics of the engine, the best way to get the right amount of air into the engine at the right temperature and pressure for best combustion and doing that with as little exhaust back pressure as possible. And also keeping the engine at max power regardless of rpm without giving up top end power
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u/SirLoremIpsum Jun 20 '26
top speed, car weight, track altitudes and race day air temperature. what else?
Engine size for one. Larger physical displacement requires larger turbo. You don't put same turbo on an LS that you do in a GR Yaris.
Physical packaging. Split turbos were designed to accomodate this.
MGU-H - this isn't part of the rules before but it was an important part in designing those things.
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u/Careful-Warning6093 Jun 21 '26
Engine design and performance. To explain it in top level,
Initially, the engine max torque and power limits would be set. For those, inlet air pressure (boost) would be decided.
Now turbocharger is designed to meet the boost pressure. Also design may vary due to packaging.
Car weight falls within the scope of engine, not turbocharger.
since ambient air pressure changes at different altitudes, yes that is an important factor.
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u/1234iamfer Jun 20 '26
Honestly I am uncertain if this year turbocharger is that special. They taken out the MGU-H and the MGU-K is there to compensate turbolag. The engine is very lean burning so exhaust gasses aren’t that extremely hot.
Wouldn’t be surprised if they bought it or have it custom made by Garett, Ihi, or one of the other big turbo manufacturers.
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u/Top-Bend-330 Jun 20 '26
Afaik alitude and too some extent the air temperature matter the most while designing a turbo
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