How much lap time Mercedes will lose after the FIA banned their latest engine trick

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The amount of time Mercedes are set to lose after the FIA’s decision to ban their latest engine trick has reportedly been revealed. 

It was reported on Tuesday that the FIA had decided to ban the engine trick used in qualifying by Mercedes and Red Bull.

The trick in question relates to the MGU-K’s emergency cut-off, which Ferrari first spotted Mercedes and Red Bull using to gain extra speed at the end of a qualifying lap.

However, the mode was originally designed for emergencies, and it has since been exploited for performance gain.

As a result, the FIA has now told Mercedes and Red Bull that the mode will no longer be available unless there is an actual emergency. 

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How much lap time will Mercedes lose after the FIA ban?

It has since been claimed that the ban may not have a big impact in the grand scheme of things.

According to Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera, Mercedes are set to lose ‘very little’ following the engine trick ban. 

It has been suggested that the trick was only worth ‘less than half a tenth’ and that Mercedes’ ‘superiority is elsewhere’.

READ MORE: Three incidents ‘triggered’ FIA’s decision to ban Mercedes and Red Bull qualifying trick

Mercedes and Red Bull qualifying trick had ‘minimal gain’

Speaking on The Race podcast, F1 journalist Jon Noble echoed the above-mentioned claim that the advantage from the engine trick was small.

He said: “I don’t think anyone will miss it, there was a minimal gain, we spoke to a manufacturer in Japan, and they said it was worth three hundredths of a second.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but F1 teams run on hundredths of a second; it can make an awful lot of difference. 

“I think we would’ve gone into a scenario where others would’ve been forced to copy it. We know one manufacturer was looking to do it but couldn’t get it to work.”

Looking ahead, with another advantage closed off for Mercedes, this could be a chance for the likes of Ferrari and McLaren to challenge the Silver Arrows for race victories.

In addition, next month’s Miami Grand Prix will be the first opportunity to judge whether the FIA made the right call to ban the Mercedes and Red Bull qualifying trick.