Quote:
Originally posted by RALFANATOR
just for ref F1 motors don't have camshafts (its true)
there valves are air operated
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Sorry to disagree, but
all F1 engines (with one possible exception) have camshafts. "Pneumatic valves" means that the valve is closed using a pressurised air "spring" rather than by using a conventional steel spring, and does not mean the valve is controlled with air pressure, the camshaft still does this. You could never control valve opening and timing with pneumatics as air is not easily controlled at high pressure, and is very easily compressed, so making it very innacurate, something you do not want with valve movement at 18000rpm!
Only Renault are RUMOURED to not use camshafts in their new wide-angle V10, as they are evidently experimenting with using solenoids (electro-magnets) to electronically open and close the valves. This has lots of potential advantages as you get no direct mechanical losses from turning the camshaft, and you can have much more aggressive valve timing and opening (i.e more power) than is possible using a conventional camshaft to control the valve.
So, apart from possibly Renault, all the rest of the F1 engines currently have conventional camshafts in conjunction with pneumatic valve springs.
Chris