Interestingly, what is often overlooked and rarely considered is what fuel does inside the engine to achieve performance in these areas. Shell and Ferrari have been working closely together to develop their fuel advantage in this respect. 
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| | The Ferrari Formula One car pulls in to pit | The fuel hose attaches to the car and the ‘camera' follows the Shell V-Power race fuel as it flows through the inner hose at 12 litres per second. Fuel vapour from the tank returns back up the hose toward the re-fuelling rig, flowing between the inner and outer hoses. |
Mike Evans, Shell Formula One Fuels Development Project Leader explains, “Shell and Ferrari first worked together over 60 years ago. Recently, our technical partnership has seen the development of Shell V-Power race fuel, which is designed to provide Ferrari with three main advantages – first, give the engine more power and responsiveness through optimised formulation and friction reduction; second, improve fuel economy; and thirdly, offer protection and increase the reliability of the engine.” Generating more power from the fuel has been a key focus for the 40-strong Shell Formula One team in the last few months. The latest fuel developed by Shell contains Friction Modification Technology. Targeting mainly the piston rings, the technology is designed to help the engine turn more freely, unlocking valuable energy and helping improve horsepower. Formulated with powerful cleansing agents, the fuel also helps prevent power-robbing deposits from forming on inlet valves and injection systems, improving responsiveness. 
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| | The tank fills | The ‘camera' follows the Shell V-Power race fuel along the fuel rail into the fuel injectors. The fuel is then injected into the inlet trumpet, where it mixes with the air. This cools the mixture as the fuel vaporises on its journey down the inlet port. |
Fuel economy is an ongoing development area. In Formula One, an extra lap before pitting can mean the difference between a win and a loss. Evans says, “We measure fuel economy on a gravimetric basis – that is the weight of fuel used for a certain distance, rather than volume. Shell's objective is to create a lighter fuel. For example, say a Formula One fuel tank holds 100litres. If the Shell V-Power race fuel we create weighs a kilogram or two less than a competitor using the same size tank, then we could potentially give Ferrari an added lap advantage.” 
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| | As the inlet valve opens, the fuel-air mixture flows through the inlet port, past the valve and into the cylinder. The mixture is then compressed as the piston rises up the cylinder. Near the top the compressed mixture is ignited, forcing the piston back down the cylinder and turning the crankshaft. Shell V-Power race fuel is designed to give Ferrari the following advantages: | 1) Friction Modifier Technology is designed to target the piston rings, reducing friction and helping the engine turn more freely. The powerful cleansing agents help prevent power-robbing deposits from forming on inlet valves and injection systems, improving responsiveness. This all unlocks valuable energy and helps improve performance. |
The third major advantage Shell V-Power race fuel is designed to give Ferrari is engine protection and reliability, essential in the age of the two-race engine lifespan. In this area Shell Helix motor oil works together with Shell V-Power race fuel to help provide comprehensive protection. Evans says, “Shell is very proud of the fact that we helped Ferrari reach its near legendary engine reliability record. By combining Shell V-Power race fuel with a suite of other Shell products, we create a complete package of care for Ferrari's engine.” 
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| | 2) The lightness of the fuel can help achieve better fuel economy and a potential lap advantage | 3) Working together with a suite of other Shell products like Shell Helix motor oil, Shell V-Power race fuel is designed to give Ferrari increased engine protection and reliability |
An integral part of the team, Shell analyses fuel and oil samples from the Ferrari Formula One race car in a dedicated mobile trackside laboratory at each Grand Prix, while providing support in Maranello and at Shell facilities globally. One of the main objectives of this activity is to develop technology that can be transferred to Shell road products. Together with Shell, Ferrari has taken 11 Drivers' and eight Constructors' World Championship titles. |
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| | Shell Formula One Fuels Development Project Leader Mike Evans at the Shell Global Solutions facility in Chester, UK | Shell's technical partnership with Ferrari is designed to transfer technology from racing to the road, ensuring that Shell road products like Shell V-Power fuel and Shell Helix lubricants benefit motorists at the pump. |
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| | Shell V-Power Racing fuel contains 99 per cent of the same types of compounds as commercially available fuels like Shell V-Power for the road | Fuel is cooled before it is put into a race car. Cool fuel is ‘volumetrically efficient' (it takes up less space) so more can be added to the car in the same period of time during a pit stop. Cooler fuel also gives more power |
|  | | Every year, Shell blends 250,000 litres of Shell V-Power Racing fuel for the Ferrari Formula One race and test teams | Ferrari driver Felipe Massa takes to the track in the Shell-powered F2007 |
|  | | Shell V-Power Racing fuel contains over 250 different components carefully blended for the perfect mix of power and response | Shell Trackside Analysts Mark Farley (left) and Ian Albiston (right) in the Shell Track Lab, a dedicated mobile laboratory which travels to Formula One races with Ferrari |
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| | Up to 40 Shell technical personnel work on the Ferrari project, based in the UK, Germany, the Ferrari Factory in Maranello and at the track | A Shell V-Power Racing fuel sample taken from a Ferrari Formula One car at the Australian Grand Prix 2007. The fuel is then analysed in the Shell Track Lab where they can detect contamination in a fuel sample equivalent to finding a cup of sugar in Loch Ness |
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