The FIA has moved to ban a clever engine trick used by Mercedes and Red Bull in Formula 1 qualifying after Ferrari complained about the safety risks and competitive advantage it provided
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Ferrari requested clarification from the FIA over the ‘trick’ their Mercedes rivals were exploiting(Image: DPPI/Shutterstock)
The FIA has reportedly acted to ban an engine ‘trick’ exploited by Mercedes and Red Bull to secure an edge during Formula 1 qualifying. After Ferrari submitted a request for clarification on the regulations, particularly objecting to Mercedes’ apparent use of what seemed to be a loophole in the rules, the motorsport governing body has intervened.
Mercedes High Performance Powertrains and Red Bull Powertrains are the two engine suppliers understood to have discovered a “clever” method to deploy additional electrical energy for extended periods near the conclusion of a flying lap. The compromise means it would be ineffective in a race but undoubtedly a potent tool if utilised properly in a qualifying session.
Rather than ‘ramping down’ the deployment level when nearing the end of a lap, which must be done to prevent a sharp drop-off in power, those two manufacturers had identified a means to sustain the power for longer – the trade-off being that the MGU-K component of the engine would be deactivated for a period afterwards.
That is why it would not be a feasible strategy for a race, but proves advantageous in qualifying as engine power and lap time are not concerns once a flying lap has been finished. The regulations, as they stood, permitted teams to shut down their MGU-K in an emergency, in order to safeguard other engine components from damage in the event of a failure or looming issue.
It was never intended to offer a potential competitive advantage, but Mercedes and Red Bull are understood to have discovered a way to exploit it as one regardless. That will no longer be possible, however, as The Race reports that the FIA has intervened to outlaw the practice.
This follows an unfortunate consequence of the ‘trick’ being exposed at the Japanese Grand Prix, when Mercedes and Red Bull cars were left crawling along after qualifying simulation runs during practice, and Alex Albon’s Mercedes-powered Williams ground to a halt entirely.
The FIA cautioned manufacturers that such side-effects could prove hazardous, but confirmed after the Suzuka race that the ‘trick’ fell within the rules. That position has since changed, however, following discussions between the governing body and Ferrari, who had sought clarification regarding the safety concerns posed by those side-effects.
Unsurprisingly, the Scuderia were equally eager to rein in any additional advantage their rivals were gaining from its use. In revised technical guidelines distributed to all manufacturers, the FIA has made it abundantly clear that using the MGU-K shutdown feature for anything beyond a genuine emergency will not be accepted.
The governing body will have little difficulty monitoring the matter by analysing data from any cars observed to have deployed it during practice or qualifying. But while Ferrari may consider this a minor win, this trick is far from the sole reason why Mercedes engines are so considerably ahead on power in these early stages of the new regulations cycle.
They believe they remain more than two percent down on power compared to the engines being utilised by the Silver Arrows, and will therefore look to exploit F1’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunity (ADUO) to help further close the performance gap to the championship leaders.
