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Oils, innovation and faster cars: How Petronas promotes Mercedes’ relentless pursuit of Formula 1 excellence

Talk to Andrea Dolfi for a few minutes and you will probably never see a Formula 1 race the same way again.

First of all, you know exactly what the Petronas really stand for in the reigning design world champion Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1.

Dolfi is Head of Research and Development Solutions for Motorsport at Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas Lubricants International. Every time Lewis Hamilton crosses the finish line first, chances are good that Dolfi and his team played an important role in the win.

The 2021 already promises to be one of the most exciting in recent years, and Mercedes-AMG Petronas team principal Toto Wolff said ahead of the recent Italian Grand Prix that Red Bull’s car arguably has the advantage over that of his own team .

Dolfi shakes off the suggestion.

“I’m not so convinced that we need to fill such a big gap,” he said. “I’ve seen this type of statement from Toto many times in the past, and he does it to keep the team motivated. Overall, this is an opportunity for us to get even better and be more motivated. “

In fact, he welcomes the competition.

“It is good for sport to be honest with you that someone is behind our backs,” said Dolfi. “I think it’s a very healthy situation. It’s very good, we have a good season ahead of us.”

At the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton held back the relentless pursuit of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to win his record-breaking 96th F1 race. At Imola, the seven-time champion somehow recovered and finished second after his race appeared to be over when he spun in the gravel and hit the barrier. According to Dolfi, the fact that he leads the drivers in a supposedly smaller car is proof of his genius.

“The guy is so motivated that he’s not inferior to any of his much, much younger colleagues,” he told Arab News ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday. “He’s really a great artist when it comes to hunger and willingness to strive for the best. He can fill the gap with his talent. “

Thanks also go to Hamilton’s team, says Dolfi, especially to his strategist James Vowles.

“Vowles and Lewis are a pretty established kind of mini-team, they have known each other for a long time,” said the Turin-based Italian. “(Vowels) is a smart guy, he knows his stuff. He’s shy, you don’t see much of him in the spotlight, but he’s a smart guy, strategically.

Dolfi has a background in chemistry and a PhD in biophysics. His expertise goes beyond ensuring that Formula 1 vehicles run smoothly and very, very quickly.

“Oddly enough, my first career move was in a large pharmaceutical company dealing with vaccines, which are very fashionable these days,” he said.

After working for a chemical company and living in the UK for six years, he joined Petronas in 2011. In 2018 he became head of research and development in the field of fluid technology.

“I went through various roles, but was always responsible for motorsport activities in terms of fluids,” said Dolfi. “We deliver five functional fluids to the Formula 1 car. The fuel, the engine lubricant, the transmission lubricant, the hydraulic lubricant that was used to activate the gear shift. Last but not least, the coolant is a special coolant for batteries. “

In the 2021 Formula 1 season, the reigning champion presented a brand new engine, the Mercedes-AMG F1 M12 E Performance. It is the work of a three-person team from the engine manufacturers High Performance Powertrains (HPP), Mercedes (MGP) and Petronas.

“You have to remember that fuel is the primary source of energy. The job of the lubricant is to ensure reliability as there is no point in running faster if you don’t cross the finish line, ”said Dolfi. “That’s what gets the points. You have to be faster but you have to get to the end of the race and that has to be delivered by the lubricant along with the performance. “

Most casual racing fans will not be familiar with the inner workings of a Formula 1 car, and Dolfi highlights the crucial role oil plays in the performance of the engine and the look of the car itself.

“It’s strange, but when you think about it, how can oil affect the shape and overall aerodynamic development of the car?” he said. “You’d think these two are pretty (separate), but in reality one of the main challenges for the lubricant is of course to protect the moving parts from wear and tear, but it also acts as a coolant.”

Achieving higher performance means reducing the surface area of ​​the cooler; A narrower car with less drag leads to more Hamilton podiums across the board.

“All we do is track the performance of our fluids without compromising reliability,” said Dolfi. “We think and rethink the Apollo 13 style to solve problems. It goes on and on. “

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Formula 1 face greater challenges from 2022. According to a new regulation, all F1 engines must run on E10 fuels in order to reduce the CO2 footprint by 50 percent compared to 2018.

Is performance impacted?

“I don’t think so,” said Dolfi. “Let’s put it this way: whatever you’re losing in performance, and I’m not sure you’re losing (a lot), you can compensate because the power pack is a very sophisticated, dynamic device, it’s so complicated. And there is a lot to be done to adapt. “

“In step 2022, I don’t see any performance issues right now.”

Dolfi says he and his team are constantly interacting with the Mercedes management team, including Wolff himself. There are monthly and quarterly meetings, and work continues during the winter break.

“Formula 1 is always in operation,” he said. “In season, out of season, there is no rest for us.”

And when it comes to including it in the overall Formula 1 lifestyle, he’s very open and says that racing events don’t often require his presence.

“I have to be honest, I don’t watch every race,” said Dolfi. “However my wife does it, I hope this counts.”

For now, the goal for Dolfi and his team remains to ensure that Mercedes and Hamilton keep their respective titles in 2021.

“It’s really a matter of pride for us,” said Dolfi. “Petronas has been in motorsport for more than 25 years and it really is the culmination of a journey that not so many can claim, even the established big oil and gas competitors who have been around for more than 100 years. Petronas is my age in 1974. We have had a very, very good journey. We started working with Mercedes in 2010 after leaving BMW that had left Formula 1, a great, renowned player. But the good thing is that we’re a bunch of people up to the challenge. “

“It’s a good combination of motivated people, a company willing to invest, unbiased views, mutual integration and inclusiveness,” he said. “It’s a good story.”