'Mercedes testing 2016 engine at Monza'

  • Published on 05 Sep 2015 09:48
  • comments 0
  • By: Johan van den Beld

Mercedes' engine customers are yet to benefit from the very latest specification of the dominant German marque's power unit. Ahead of the Italian grand prix, Mercedes handed in its remaining 7 in-season development tokens and unveiled what the Italian press is calling the 'super motor'. Indeed, the gap to Ferrari and the rest of the field after Friday practice was significant, as Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko quipped: "And it's not even Saturday, when they turn it up."

As far as Mercedes is concerned, it is already now planning ahead for 2016 with an experimental engine. "We want to see what direction we are going for next year," boss Toto Wolff confirmed to Speed Week. "And because there are no more tests in the year, we have to test in the race. Monza is therefore a part of our development programme."

One concern, he said, is that the upgraded engine may not yet be completely bullet-proof. "We cannot expect an entirely trouble-free weekend," said Wolff. "Reliability could be an issue. But at some point we have to start with the tests." That may be a good argument for why customers Force India, Lotus and Williams are yet to be offered the latest specification. "Our customers will get the new development as soon as possible," Wolff is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

So while it is all plain-sailing on the engine front for Mercedes, the same cannot be said for rivals Renault and Honda. Indeed, both manufacturers are now making use of the new loophole created when the FIA put a limit on how much drivers can be penalised per weekend for engine changes. McLaren-Honda began the 'doubling up' at Spa, and now Red Bull and Toro Rosso are reportedly following suit.

Explaining the rationale of making multiple engine changes with a maximum of a back-of-the-grid demotion, McLaren's Eric Boullier told the official F1 website: "At tracks like Spa or Monza we have to use these 'jokers', to 'protect' the few races where we know we can be competitive."

According to some, however, the new loophole is simply making a "farce" of qualifying, as multiple drivers tumble to the back of the grid. "It is likely to be a long time after qualifying until it is clear who actually starts from where on the grid. It is getting silly now," said Helmut Uhl, the correspondent for Bild newspaper. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar