Mercedes Power Unit Hardware & Software

[PlatinumZealot]

The F1 MGUK is the longer barrel-type motor/generator. You can clearly see it in the engine photos.

[Honda Porsche fan]

What is impressive with the Mercedes F1 engine program is they give consistently powerful if not equal engines to all teams sort of like how Ducati does in motorcycle racing...

"During the Chinese Grand Prix, the Apline / Mercedes powered car recorded the highest single top speed of the session at 339 km/h—and unusually, this was achieved on the start‑finish straight rather than the back straight."

Williams hit 337 km.

Mercedes Petronas factory hit 335 km...

Alpine is also using the Mercerdes Petronas gearbox for 2026. I wonder if they're also using the same gear ratios ?

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28313? ... fa2f1fbde7


Max Verstappen licking his chops for a Mercedes seat for 2027 ?

[algebraist]

If you'll forgive the click bait video title then:



It is extremely scary the perceived advantage they have.

[FittingMechanics]

If you'll forgive the click bait video title then:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CY-vYDVuJDs

It is extremely scary the perceived advantage they have.

I'm really frustrated how many people do not understand what they are seeing. In that clip, it is almost certain that Hamilton used energy earlier in the lap, Russell in a faster car was able to stay close to him and then on the back straight Russell had much more energy and deployed it for longer and needed to harvest less. Leclerc on Hamilton (and vice versa) can make the same kind of clips.

If they used same kind of deployment (no one made a lunge) then the gap would be almost constant. These type of overlaps that you see here happen because they go off the optimal deployment map. It means you can get an "overspeed" at certain corner but then lose out on another. You are also probably slower than in clear air with optimal deployment.

In my opinion, this is a very good thing for Formula 1 as it will allow drivers to experiment with overtakes much more than in previous engine formulas. Right now we are only seeing a part of it because the gaps are very large between the teams and even with the gaps being big we are seeing an improvement in racing.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Apologies if this has been talked about elsewhere, I couldn't find it when I tried. A few YouTubers have talked about a trick that Mercedes PU teams have been able to do using the emergency MGU-K cutoff, or something like that, at the end of their Qualifying lap to give them extra deployment.

What are they talking about??

[dans79]

Apologies if this has been talked about elsewhere, I couldn't find it when I tried. A few YouTubers have talked about a trick that Mercedes PU teams have been able to do using the emergency MGU-K cutoff, or something like that, at the end of their Qualifying lap to give them extra deployment.

What are they talking about??

this!
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/new- ... i-annoyed/

[Waz]

Apologies if this has been talked about elsewhere, I couldn't find it when I tried. A few YouTubers have talked about a trick that Mercedes PU teams have been able to do using the emergency MGU-K cutoff, or something like that, at the end of their Qualifying lap to give them extra deployment.

What are they talking about??

this!
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/new- ... i-annoyed/

Clever, but only helpful on long straights, isn't it? How would this be a benefit in Suzuka with the finish line so near? They don't have extra power and there's not going to be a ramp down before the line.

Bit of a nothingburger and Ferrari, at least, will develop a map to use this idea in Qualifying by Miami if it helps.

[dans79]

Clever, but only helpful on long straights, isn't it? How would this be a benefit in Suzuka with the finish line so near? They don't have extra power and there's not going to be a ramp down before the line.

Bit of a nothingburger and Ferrari, at least, will develop a map to use this idea in Qualifying by Miami if it helps.

It doesn't matter if it's a short straight, a long strait, or a high speed turn. If you don't abide by the ramp down, they you have an unfair advantage because you can accelerate at a faster rate than your competition.

[dans79]

the trick is not allowed anymore.