The FIA have warned F1 teams not to copy Mercedes’ unbeaten engine design

Follow us on Google Discover

Mercedes-powered teams have won every single race so far this year, with Lando Norris’ Sprint victory in Miami the only exception to the Silver Arrows’ dominance.

One would expect rival manufacturers to copy Mercedes’ design, such is the way in Formula 1. While they don’t have access to the blueprints, details always spread in engineering circles.

That’s exactly how Mercedes’ fuel compression ratio trick emerged in the off-season. The Brackley outfit have apparently found a loophole in the rules that unlocks extra horsepower.

Why Mercedes’ ‘twin-chamber’ design has effectively been outlawed for rivals

Under the new engine rulebook, the maximum fuel compression ratio was lowered from 18:1 to 16:1, but rivals heard that Mercedes were exceeding the limit on track. The FIA only tested the engines at ambient temperature in parc ferme, so this was undetectable.

Will Kimi Antonelli’s F1 record ever be beaten?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

From next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix onwards, the FIA will test the engines at 130 degrees instead. Mercedes are confident this won’t cause them any problems.

Given the horsepower advantage, competitors looked into using the same technology, according to Motorsport Italia. Red Bull hired vast numbers of staff from Mercedes’ Brixworth facility and wanted to put their inside knowledge to use.

However, rumours suggest these teams were ‘advised’ to abandon development by the FIA, otherwise the sport’s governing body would intervene to prevent ‘increasing costs’ across the grid.

• READ MORE: Ferrari ‘strongly suspect’ that Mercedes are using ‘special fuel’ as horsepower gap widens

Mercedes’ design, which apparently entails a ‘tiny’ additional chamber, was already approved before the scandal erupted in the off-season. But the FIA were ready to ban it in the interests of the sport it became commonplace.

There’s also chatter that the FIA could introduce even stricter engine tests in August after the summer break to end any debate over fairness.

FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis is adamant Mercedes weren’t trying to ‘cheat’. They were open about their plans with the chief engine regulator.

Teams are always trying to find grey areas in the rules, which in turn, prompts their rivals to complain.