What is M or H in F1? Your Comprehensive Guide
As an avid F1 fan and expert analyst, I get asked this question a lot – what do M and H mean in Formula 1? They actually refer to two important components: tyre compounds and motor generator units. Let me bring you up to speed on both in this comprehensive guide!
Decoding F1 Tyre Compound Codes
The tyres are the only part of an F1 car touching the track surface, so getting the compounds right is crucial. Pirelli and Hankook design tyres with different materials to manage wear rates, temperature windows and grip levels.
The four slick tyre compounds used are:
- SS: Super Soft (Red)
- S: Soft (Yellow)
- M: Medium (White)
- H: Hard (Orange)
As we move from super soft to hard, peak grip reduces but stability and durability increases. Teams leverage this in race strategy – slam on the softest tyre for quick qualifying laps, then balance compounds for the race.
Let‘s analytically compare the compounds:
| Tyre | Peak Grip | Performance Window | Stint Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Soft | High | Narrow | 12-15 laps |
| Soft | High | Medium | 15-25 laps |
| Medium | Medium | Large | 25-35 laps |
| Hard | Low | Very Large | 35-50 laps |
See the differing characteristics? Now let‘s exemplify race strategy:
- Sprint Qualifying (max performance) – Super Soft
- Early Stint (preserve tyres) – Hard
- Attack Stint (push for overtakes) – Soft
The best strategists combine data analytics with experience to perfectly time their final splash of speed on the optimal rubber!
MGUs – Hybrid Power in F1 Engines
F1 power units now comprise turbocharged combustion engines combined with sophisticated Energy Recovery Systems (ERS). Two motor generator units play pivotal roles:
- MGU-K – Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic
- MGU-H – Motor Generator Unit – Heat
MGU-K harvests kinetic energy when braking into battery storage, providing 160bhp of electric boost on demand.
MGU-H captures wasted heat energy from exhaust gases, converting it into electric power – worth 50bhp. Not only does this increase power levels, it turbocharges (literally!) efficiency.
Teams can strategize when best to deploy their battery boosts for crucial overtakes or defensive moves per race. Overall the MGUs provide:
- +25% thermal efficiency gains
- +210 bhp peak power output
As an example, Mercedes‘ avant-garde efforts in hybrid tech have defined their dominance. With expert engineers pushing boundaries every year, I can‘t wait to see what innovations arrive next!
So for any fellow armchair experts out there – now you know your M for Medium tyres from your MGU-K motor generators! Hopefully this inside scoop has y‘all primed for the upcoming 2023 season. Let me know in the comments what key race strategies or technological masterstrokes you‘ll be keeping an eye out for!
