So what about real life, how well does the F1 Ferrari measure up when compared the the maximum efficiency?

Well the Ferrari engine has a total capacity of 3 litres and, according to them, produces ">750HP" at 12,000 revolutions per minute.

Considering the combustion of fuel as

 C8H18 + 16O2 ------> 8CO2 + 16H2

where 5.5MJ is released per mole of octane as energy of combustion. 

To work it out follow the questions below - to reveal the answer just click over the question your working on.

Therefore the maximum power a Ferrari engine could produce is 785HP and they say that it produces ">750HP" so as you may have guessed Ferrari are getting pretty near to perfect - that might explain why they just keep on winning.

(images taken, without permission, from http://www.formula1.com)