PU mode change clearly aimed at us, Hamilton says

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emailBy Chris Medland | 10 hours ago

Lewis Hamilton says it is clear any Formula 1 rule change relating to the use of power unit modes is aimed at slowing down Mercedes but warns it won’t achieve that target.

The FIA has informed teams it is looking into a regulation change that would force teams have to change the way they use power unit modes, specifically peak modes in qualifying. Mercedes in particular makes a clear step forward when running certain modes in Q2 and Q3, but rarely is able to utilize the modes in race trim. Hamilton says it is not a shock that a rule change that appears to be targeted at his team is being discussed, given Mercedes’ significant championship lead.

“I mean it’s not a surprise — they’re always trying to slow us down,” Hamilton said. “But it doesn’t really change a huge amount for us, so it’s not a problem.

“At the end of the day, the guys at our team have just done such a great job with the engine. It’s obviously to slow us down but I don’t think it’s going to get the result that they want. But that’s totally fine if they do.”

Hamilton also insists Mercedes does not have more to lose than any other manufacturers, and teammate Valtteri Bottas also suggests there are knock-on effects that could make it harder for rivals to challenge in races.

“It’s impossible to know what the other manufacturers can actually gain when they go out in qualifying and if we’re actually gaining more or not,” Bottas said. “We are not panicking about it and if that change in the regulations come, then it’s the same for everyone.

“Only this morning I heard of the possibility of that happening and the first thing that came to my mind was that, in the races, everyone has different modes, so how much will they want to risk in terms of engine life? Like us, they can save the engine at some stages but also, in terms of strategic decisions in the race, many times you run different modes depending on if you are defending, attacking and so on.

“From my side, if it’s going to be the same engine mode for everyone all through the race there will be less overtaking, because everyone will be running the same modes instead of playing with them and trying to maximize every situation. Sometimes you use more power, sometimes less, but, in the end there will be fewer things for us drivers to do. Obviously, it’s not up to us if the change comes…”

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-Benz, Power Unit, Formula 1

 

FIA considering restrictions on F1 qualifying engine modes

Mark Sutton//Motorsport Images
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emailBy Chris Medland | 11 hours ago

The FIA has informed teams it is considering introducing tougher restrictions regarding the use of qualifying engine modes as early as the first race after the Spanish Grand Prix.

Teams regularly use peak power unit performance at specific times during qualifying but are rarely able to utilize them during races. The advantage gained by Mercedes when it activates its strongest qualifying mode in Q2 and Q3 has been particularly significant this season, with the Saturday performance not always translating to the same advantage for the Mercedes-powered teams as Red Bull is closer in race trim and the likes of Racing Point and Williams have tended to struggle more on Sundays.

The FIA has now told teams it is looking into the way it will police the use of such modes, potentially bringing them under parc ferme regulations or importing a limitation that will mean they have to be able to be used for a certain amount of time during a race. Although the topic is still under discussion, it is understood that restrictions could be brought in as early as the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August.

RACER understands certain manufacturers are pushing heavily for any changes to be introduced at Spa-Francorchamps in an attempt to try and limit Mercedes’ advantage. Technical directives surrounding power unit usage were common last season and had a clear impact on Ferrari’s straight-line speed, with team principal Mattia Binotto confirming power unit performance was lost as a result.

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Mercedes has dominated qualifying so far in 2020, with the team enjoying an advantage of over a second to the next non-Mercedes powered car in each of the last four qualifying sessions.

With the Ferrari-powered teams struggling so far this season, Charles Leclerc says the team is only able to use the same modes on both Saturdays and Sundays at the moment and therefore could benefit.

“To be honest, on our side I don’t think it will affect us so much,” Leclerc says. “I think it can only be positive for us. How much will it be beneficial? It’s still to be seen but for us, I can say we don’t have anything different from qualifying to the race, so for us it won’t change anything.”

Sebastian Vettel echoed his teammate’s points, saying Ferrari’s current position would mean it would not be hurt by such a rule change.

“As Charles says, it doesn’t affect us this season so let’s wait and see what happens,” Vettel said, “I think it always depends on what you’re able to pull off. I guess If you have something developed or in your engine that you can probably run a certain amount of mileage with more power or stress on the engine, then probably not the best news.

“I guess depending on how much it makes a difference to you, you’re either happy or not happy — pretty simple.”
Limiting power modes could have repercussions all the way though the field. Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Haas uses Ferrari power units so Romain Grosjean is also hopeful it would make that team become more competitive, citing an overtaking move from a Mercedes-powered Williams on Kevin Magnussen in last weekend’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix as an example of some of the power unit mode differences.

“To be 100% honest I just read on Twitter about the new rule,” Grosjean said. “I haven’t discussed it with any of the engineers, the impact it may have. I know what we have between free practice, qualifying and race — I don’t know what the others have. It’s difficult to answer right now. Obviously, yes, when there’s a new rule coming in you always hope it’s going to be in your favor rather than the other way around, so I guess we wait and see for Spa.

“When I was watching the onboards from the last race and I saw Nicholas Latifi could overtake Kev through Turn 9 and Turn 10, obviously they — (with) the Mercedes engine — have a button that is very powerful, because it’s definitely not a place where you can overtake a car.

“If it was down to me we’d go back to the KERS time where you’d have 100% battery for the lap and you could use it as you wanted to defend or attack. That was quite cool, to just be able to use your energy for the lap as you wanted.

“I know it’s a different era and so on but I think when the driver has got some say on how he wants to defend or to attack, it’s pretty cool. Again, we know what we have and what difference it’s going to make to us. I don’t know what difference it’s going to make to the others.”

Power Unit, Qualifying, Formula 1