PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑30 Nov 2021, 07:55
saviour stivala wrote: ↑25 Nov 2021, 08:03
Formula one power unit supplied to customer teams are regulated by Federation rules. The supply will of course include the various power modes the power unit can be operated in.
There should be no doubt that the minimum cooling system requirements to run/operate a supplied power unit would be part of the supply contract needs. But the cooling system not being part of the power unit as suppled is the responsibility of the customer team.
Having said all that one can rest assured that all cars on the grid including power unit customers cars runs a cooling system that meets at least the minimum cooling requirements for their respective power unit. As per the rules each ‘car’s power unit (each driver’s power unit) can only be operated in one selected power mode from qualifying to race end. This makes it possible for two drivers in the same team running in different power modes, let alone different customer teams running in different power modes.
The level of power mode selected to run a power unit on is decided in accordance with the power unit life condition. But no matter the power mode selected to run on, the maximum power output of the selected mode delivery to the rear wheels will wholly depend on the said power unit sophisticated electronic safeguards monitoring system (water and oil cooling level/ cylinder knock levels). The more effective/efficient these said systems are the more power can be delivered to the rear wheels from a decided upon/selected to run on power mode.
From what we saw in 2014, when Massa asked for "overtake" before being permitted to use the "Strat 2" qaulifying mode for a couple laps we can tell that the customer teams used to have all the maps but their use of these maps were restricted to lesser laps or even just for qualifying use. This implies that Mercedes has some sort of engine life guarantee with it's customers and it would be unusual for them to allow use of the power maps flogging the car around whenever they want. So yeah, customers have the maps but their use of it is restricted.
If you mean Massa's defence from hamilton in monza and him being instructed to not use overtake on one of the laps that does not immediately mean he's now suddenly using a trash mode or anything like that, it could just mean he's down on battery, or maybe he's exceeded allotted overtake button uses for that particular race or whatever. In fact in 2014 in Monza all mercedes powered cars were using one deploy and one save lap to manage energy (~20 kmh difference in top speed).
btw, strat 2 is never used in races, it literally lasts only 1 lap and then you are seconds per lap slower and will be overtaken by everyone that's remotely close to you, not to mention it needs a full lap to charge. Literally never have I seen or heard a mercedes car use strat 2 in any other session than Q2 and Q3. Highest strat possible in races was strat3 based on some info from some time ago, but this year strat 4 was the most they used. Actually in vast majority of cases they'll use strat 5 when they need to push for 2 consecutive laps. When someone needs to defend they just use regular race modes + overtake button on critical sections.