When a race fuel upgrade hits the track, it's the culmination of months and months of hard work from a dedicated team back at base. Fuel specialists can go through as many as 20 formulations before confirming one that is ready to hit the track. We meet Eugine Choi, who is responsible for developing the Esso Synergy™ race fuel supplied to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, to find out more…
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing are in their third season with ExxonMobil. How has the relationship grown and evolved over time?
The relationship with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing can only be described as exciting. Year-on-year, we’ve seen the relationship and communication improve and that has had a positive impact on the product and the performance. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s commitment to winning, like we recently saw in Austria, is contagious and it makes everyone work even harder to help them achieve that goal. Honda shares the same commitment and I believe that the three brands are all working together effectively towards a common goal.
How do you go about finding the next fuel upgrade for the team?
New fuel formulations are designed from past experiences on the engine and fundamental combustion chemistry considerations. Now that we are in year three of the partnership, we have a bank of information, which we take into consideration when we create new fuel formulations for testing. Each time Honda introduces a new power unit, it provides an opportunity to optimize the fuel chemistry that can maximize the performance of the engine. We therefore work together closely with Honda and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing on the timings with regards introducing a new Esso Synergy race fuel.
How many fuel variations do you create, on average, before you reach one you’re happy to run in the Formula One car?
On average, we may go through around 20 new fuel formulations before finding an acceptable performance improvement that we introduce to the car for racing. A clear demonstration of performance improvement on the dyno triggers the fuel upgrade to decide if we take it to the race track for use or not. It is a continuous development that doesn’t stop and this is our commitment to making Aston Martin Red Bull Racing-Honda even quicker out on track.
How many upgrades are you planning this season and how early do you start preparing for next season?
Typically, we target two to three fuel upgrades per season. We introduced a new Esso Synergy race fuel ahead of pre-season testing and it was in the RB15 for the opening race of the season in Australia. We’re working on new formulations with an aim of further introductions in the near future. The testing program for the 2020 campaign starts after the summer break, around the end of August. We will be working closely with Honda and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing on next year’s challenger so we are best prepared for the season ahead.
What are your thoughts about the future of fuels in Formula One and proposed carbon neutral fuels?
I fully support the emphasis on sustainability as an overarching objective for any endeavour. For Formula One fuel, we can clearly try to increase the use of bio-components to promote sustainability. But in order to develop the right fuel to unlock the power and efficiency of today’s Formula One engine technology the timing of the change must be managed very carefully. The fuel and engine are linked more intimately than ever before. This means that any change on one side will significantly impact the other side. If managed correctly, I believe that we can promote both sustainability of the fuel and increased power and fuel efficiency of the engine.
How long have you worked in your role and what’s the best thing about your job and why?
I have been formulating Formula One fuels for around six years – and I’m very fortunate to be able to say I love my job. The best thing about this role is the challenge of working on a complex technical problem and then seeing the result of your efforts to find a solution almost immediately on the track. There’s nothing quite like it.
What have you made of the world of Formula One when you’ve been in the paddock?
I’ve attended several races, mostly from the paddock side. I’ve found that each race has its own unique atmosphere and I am always impressed by the combination of technology, teamwork and driver skills that are on display. The activities in the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing garage and the ExxonMobil Trackside Lab really reinforces the level of professionalism and technology involved in racing which most people do not experience. I always learn something new at the racetrack when I attend a race and I’m looking forward to my next appearance.