2026 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

[f1isgood]

Too bad all the compression hype has resulted this. Clearly Merc have moved to full "play it down" mode rather than a calm confidence. I expect this kind of approach to the media the rest of testing, and they won't show real speed till Q2/Q3 in Oz.

Yep, they are simply running in detuned mode so that they can try to sell the FIA a detuned image that they are really "weak".

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Because the rule says it can never be above 16.

At ambient temperature yes, but when engine is operating at peak temp, compression may change and different engines may have different peak temp.

No, the rule does not say at ambient temp, it says it may never be higher than 16... It's only the test that says ambient temp.

The rules specify how they will define compression ratio using a test and that test specifies ambient temperature.

Therefore, according to the wording of the rules, the compression ratio may never exceed 16:1 - as defined within the rules, ie: at ambient temperature.

The rules, currently, do not specify a test for operating temperature. Therefore the Mercedes ICE conforms to the rules.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Too bad all the compression hype has resulted this. Clearly Merc have moved to full "play it down" mode rather than a calm confidence. I expect this kind of approach to the media the rest of testing, and they won't show real speed till Q2/Q3 in Oz.

Yep, they are simply running in detuned mode so that they can try to sell the FIA a detuned image that they are really "weak".

Won't work. The FIA will benchmark the PU's on a dyno.

[OverheatedTurbo]

Car seems to be struggling with the track temperatures again according to driver’s feedback. Not a good sign for the team to be grappling with this issue for the 3rd year in a row.

[upsidedowntoast]

Everyone seems so convinced that they're sandbagging again (probably 2014 trauma) but I don't think so. Mclaren have the exact same engine and they are doing fine. Not just talking about lap times, but their unreliability in hot weather. The fact that they've carried over this issue into a new reg set is very not good.

Maybe this was just a little oopsie and tomorrow we'll see them doing ok, maybe this speaks to more serious flaws within their design philosophy (e.g. chasing peak performance but in a narrow operating window that makes it very sensitive and fiddly in real life conditions).

[FittingMechanics]

Everyone seems so convinced that they're sandbagging again (probably 2014 trauma) but I don't think so. Mclaren have the exact same engine and they are doing fine. Not just talking about lap times, but their unreliability in hot weather. The fact that they've carried over this issue into a new reg set is very not good.

Maybe this was just a little oopsie and tomorrow we'll see them doing ok, maybe this speaks to more serious flaws within their design philosophy (e.g. chasing peak performance but in a narrow operating window that makes it very sensitive and fiddly in real life conditions).

I agree. Mercedes was good at cold weather for couple of years now, it's not unreasonable to think they were once again good in cold weather (Barcelona) but that they struggle in hot weather (Bahrain).

But Toto will obviously try to sandbag the engine. If I was in charge I would put all Mercedes powered teams on a weaker PU mode.

[Farnborough]

Everyone seems so convinced that they're sandbagging again (probably 2014 trauma) but I don't think so. Mclaren have the exact same engine and they are doing fine. Not just talking about lap times, but their unreliability in hot weather. The fact that they've carried over this issue into a new reg set is very not good.

Maybe this was just a little oopsie and tomorrow we'll see them doing ok, maybe this speaks to more serious flaws within their design philosophy (e.g. chasing peak performance but in a narrow operating window that makes it very sensitive and fiddly in real life conditions).

I agree. Mercedes was good at cold weather for couple of years now, it's not unreasonable to think they were once again good in cold weather (Barcelona) but that they struggle in hot weather (Bahrain).

But Toto will obviously try to sandbag the engine. If I was in charge I would put all Mercedes powered teams on a weaker PU mode.

There's already an update .... a small patch of carpet (Axminster I believe) to fix on floor underneath throttle pedal

"Rumour" has it that Toto was seen sticking them to each car using MB PU and preventing full throttle opening.

Warning, this maybe just made up

[Lasssept]

[Lasssept]

[Emag]

They tried to recharge like RedBull does and burned a fuse

[SB15]

They tried to recharge like RedBull does and burned a fuse

or...

[venkyhere]

Everyone seems so convinced that they're sandbagging again (probably 2014 trauma) but I don't think so. Mclaren have the exact same engine and they are doing fine. Not just talking about lap times, but their unreliability in hot weather. The fact that they've carried over this issue into a new reg set is very not good.

Maybe this was just a little oopsie and tomorrow we'll see them doing ok, maybe this speaks to more serious flaws within their design philosophy (e.g. chasing peak performance but in a narrow operating window that makes it very sensitive and fiddly in real life conditions).

I agree. Mercedes was good at cold weather for couple of years now, it's not unreasonable to think they were once again good in cold weather (Barcelona) but that they struggle in hot weather (Bahrain).

But Toto will obviously try to sandbag the engine. If I was in charge I would put all Mercedes powered teams on a weaker PU mode.

There's already an update .... a small patch of carpet (Axminster I believe) to fix on floor underneath throttle pedal

"Rumour" has it that Toto was seen sticking them to each car using MB PU and preventing full throttle opening.

Warning, this maybe just made up

https://x.com/MV33Racing/status/2021609 ... 36/photo/1

[zibby43]

Not a great test so far.

[basti313]

Yep, they are simply running in detuned mode so that they can try to sell the FIA a detuned image that they are really "weak".

Yes. Looks like...suddenly the RedBull is the strongest engine...

Won't work. The FIA will benchmark the PU's on a dyno.

And a dyno is free of "modes"?

First of all, if there is a "trick", it is an efficiency trick. They can use it for peak power or better...for efficiency. If they use it for efficiency nothing one could use to attack them will show up on a dyno.

Everyone seems so convinced that they're sandbagging again (probably 2014 trauma) but I don't think so. Mclaren have the exact same engine and they are doing fine. Not just talking about lap times, but their unreliability in hot weather. The fact that they've carried over this issue into a new reg set is very not good.

GPS data shows that the Merc engines are all lower on power. The McLaren was perfectly balanced, again a super easy to drive car. No miracle that they showed superb long runs. Has nothing to do with the engine.

[Lasssept]