Daimler Cites Technology Transfer from Formula One Racing

Daimler AG says its involvement in Formula One racing continues to produce technologies that transfer to the company's Mercedes-Benz road cars.

One example: Daimler's "nanoslide" F1 technology used to coat cylinder bores to reduce friction. Another: the increasing use of carbon fiber body components in production cars.

The company also suggests that efforts by the F1 team to improve the kinetic energy recovery systems mandated for its race cars since 2009 will spill over into upcoming hybrid powertrains for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Daimler says the first prototype bolt-on KERS it built in 2007 for an F1 car weighed 107 kg and was 39% efficient. By 2012, the same system weighed less than 24 kg and was 80% efficient. This year's F1 cars fully integrate KERS into the powertrain. The company has applied its KERS knowhow in the AMG SLS electric drive system.

Daimler notes that work by its Mercedes Petronas F1 team in ultra-high-performance lubrication includes a continuing technology partnership with Petronas, a 40-year-old Malaysian oil and gas company, to transfer tribology knowhow between road and track vehicles.