The technical vocabulary of Formula One might be perplexing, but what exactly does the phrase ‘clipping’ mean, know its meaning in F1
What effect does this have on how fast drivers can go on the track over a race weekend?
For the high-tech 1.6L V6 turbo hybrids, the F1 days of the old V8 era with the relatively simple 2.4l engines are long gone. With the turbo hybrids came a slew of new technology for the teams and drivers to grapple with, with clipping being one of them.
Clipping Meaning In F1 And How Does It Affect The Speed Of Drivers In Formula One
What does clipping mean in Formula One, and how does it affect driver speed?
In F1, What Does Clipping Mean?
Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, notified his team that the Red Bull Powertrains (Honda) engine in the back of the RB18 was clipping during practice for the Canadian Grand Prix.
It meant that during the session, Verstappen’s run plan was disturbed. Clipping is a phrase used by Formula One teams to describe the process of gathering energy.
The automobiles can capture, store, and deploy electrical energy as needed by the driver, but the battery must be fully charged for this to happen.
Throughout a lap, drivers will gather energy in preparation for full deployment out of a curve and down a long straight. The engine will de-rate (slow down) and begin to harvest energy if the driver runs out of the 160bhp boost. Clipping is the term for this.
Part In the Historic F1 Crash
The Lewis Hamilton-Nico Rosberg rivalry at Mercedes defined the 2014-16 Formula One era. The 2016 Spanish Grand Prix came to a head when the two crashed on the opening lap, leaving Mercedes with no points.
Rosberg was later found to be in the improper engine setting after taking the lead on the run to Turn 1 and was derating through Turn 3. This allowed Hamilton to close in on the inside of Turn 4 and attempt to pass. The inside was then covered by Rosberg, and the rest is history.