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Alexander Wurz: "Mercedes rivals have no party mode"

  • Published on 27 Mar 2018 12:32
  • 7
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Alex Wurz has weighed into the debate about Mercedes' supposed engine "party mode". After Lewis Hamilton dominated qualifying in Melbourne, some said it was because his car features a "party mode" button that Mercedes' F1 customers and rivals do not have.

That is despite the fact that, prior to the start of the 2018 season, the FIA clarified that engine suppliers must provide identical equipment to their customers. But former driver and now GPDA president Wurz says it's not quite that simple. "Mercedes has developed a system that allows them to go beyond the performance limits of their equipment," the Austrian told the ORF broadcaster. "The other manufacturers do not dare or have not developed such engine maps."

Wurz said the special map will be used only rarely, for instance at the end of qualifying. It was apparently also deployed by Cosworth back in 2006. "Later, many Cosworth engineers changed to Mercedes, and I'm sure that played a major role in developing this sensational Mercedes turbo engine," he explained. (GMM)

F1 News Lewis Hamilton Mercedes

Replies (7)

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  • Rindtchamp

    Posts: 304

    ...and neither do the Merc customer teams.

    • + 0
    • Mar 27 2018 - 15:08
  • JCF1

    Posts: 27

    "Mercedes has developed a system that allows them to go beyond the performance limits of their equipment..."

    ...and Bottas sure did.

    • + 0
    • Mar 27 2018 - 18:01
  • reg

    Posts: 162

    Well as with the Aussies in Cricket, cheating obviously prevails!

    • + 0
    • Mar 27 2018 - 18:57
    • calle.itw

      Posts: 8,527

      'cept this isnt really cheating. They are just turning up their engines when need arises.

      • + 1
      • Mar 27 2018 - 20:13
  • ajpennypacker

    Posts: 2,475

    I don't understand why this has suddenly become a big deal. Engine mappings are not a new thing in Formula 1. If other manufacturers think it's beneficial to have a special quali mode, they should develop it.

    • + 0
    • Mar 27 2018 - 22:23
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    It's not just engine mapping there will be more involved most probably an different component that is not used the same way as in normal mode. We won't find out how this mode works but it's quick.

    • + 0
    • Mar 28 2018 - 00:16
  • reg

    Posts: 162

    Well they are supposed to supply identical engines to their customers,.
    They (all engine manufacturers) have to use standard ECUs supplied by McLaren.
    So they must have found a way of over riding something and are no supplying this to their customers '- thats cheating methinks!

    • + 0
    • Mar 28 2018 - 10:30

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