wunderkind wrote:beelsebob wrote:and get a big advantage over everyone by being able to redesign their exhaust solution on the new 2014 car.
Could you elaborate on this point?
Simple, the teams don't get to adjust their engine maps between seasons. However, obviously, a brand new engine will require brand new engine maps, and McLaren will be allowed to create engine maps for it. They'll be able to generate engine maps first for the new 2014 Merc engine, and then for the 2015 Honda engine. That means they'll be able to do research all through 2014 as to how best to get drivability out of the tyres, how to best produce exhaust gasses, how to best tune one of the new turbo engines (though admittedly it'll be how to tune a Merc one).