Life of a Formula One Power Unit: Valvetrain Systems

The world of Formula One (F1) is changing with impending 2026 F1 regulations imposing even stricter limits on engine component usage while increasing races. The valvetrain system, specifically the intake valves, play an important role in controlling gas exchange within the cylinders, directly impacting air-fuel charge and power output. The aim of this investigation is to study the mechanisms of intake valve and valve seat wear which will influence engine performance due to leakage path development. The wear mechanism of the intake valves considers wear from impact, sliding and particle abrasion for quantifying valve seat recession. An FIA 2026-2030 regulations compliant valve train model is developed in GT-Suite to help estimate valve seat wear. The validated model is capable of predicting valve recession for a given engine operating speed trace from race track data. This paper presents a systematic methodology for developing valve seat wear quantification, the effects of charge leakage past the valve on engine performance and hence, performance degradation per race through the decrease of air-fuel charge. The schemes proposed can thus be used by power unit manufacturers to evaluate valve seat materials and valvetrain kinematics for improving reliability and life of valve train systems for a given race.