Withholding customer Mercedes power units for Red Bull Racing from 2016 onwards likely helped the relative competitiveness of Mercedes GP against Red Bull Racing a lot in my opinion.PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑04 Mar 2023, 14:17No. Just no.
The engine was the best on balance, power drievability reliability but horsepower wise Ferrari and Honda has challenged them. 2015 to 2019 the Ferrari engine was probably stronger. In 2020 to 2022 the Honda was very close.
The ex-Lotus supply of Mercedes HPP units was allocated to Manor, who then went bankrupt, instead of Red Bull: a financially sound team looking to replace their Renault supply. Mercedes HPP developments benefiting Red Bull Racing and Mercedes GP equally would likely have been better for the sport and produced better action and battles over multiple championships from 2016 onwards.
Interestingly, Red Bull Racing is apparently negotiating towards a supply of Ford RBPT units for McLaren Racing from 2026. This would seem to be a sound sporting gesture, perhaps lacking from Mercedes for the 2016 season on.