Parc Ferme covered this topic two weeks ago in Parc Ferme: FIA’s Innovation watershed. At the time of writing, they had told F1’s PU complainants that the Mercedes engine was legal under the prescribed method of testing. End of.
However, “end of” is apparently a relative term. In the quirky world of Formula 1, it can also translate into: “until more people band together and lean in harder”.
What should have been a closed subject has once again been reignited. The catalyst for this backpedalling apparently lies at the feet of Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
Unpredicta-bull
Previously phlegmatic about the whole matter, they have now joined the other PU manufacturers, who were also at the back of the queue for creative ideas.
The presumption is that Red Bull Ford Powertrains are no longer confident that their version of swerving the compression tolerances is functional.
Consequently, the complainant gang of three have now become four. With Red Bull now added to their ranks, Audi, Honda, and Ferrari are full of renewed zest and once more confronting Mercedes in the FIA playground.
Naval contemplation
Apparently, FIA's Single Seater boss Nikolas Tombazis confirmed on the 9th February that the governing body is determined to “solve” this dispute before the season opener.
We thought this had already been done, but hey-ho. To this end, the Power Unit Advisory Committee (PUAC) is considering, once again, several compromises.
These include installing mandatory sensors in engine combustion chambers for real-time monitoring. Bet that’s cheap! Fuel energy limits for the sustainable fuels to inhibit Mercedes’ compression gain. Or finally, the logical one: change the regulations in 2027.
Homologation minefield
There is one other problem that’s not talked about. As Red Mist highlighted recently, homologation for the PUs has been completed, so no one can change in time for the start of the season anyway.
Fortunately for Mercedes, there’s nothing like a committee to decide to do nothing, and together with the homologation argument, changing the testing procedure in 2027 has to be the preferred outcome.
Pay up and then complain
Parc Ferme also finds that the FIA are being unnecessarily patient. If I were them, I would just advise the teams/PU manufacturers to put it all in writing and submit it along with the protest fee.
Whilst the FIA wait for the teams to slap the money down, they could prepare to celebrate some early revenue for their coffers. Once the money is in the account, remind them that they all had a copy of the regulations and testing procedures; therefore, there is no problem, box ticked.
Lift off to pass?
Finally, there are bigger fish to fry. Whilst most of the drivers have been toeing the company line, one or two have let slip that the new method of driving an F1 car is a little anti-racing.
Lifting off on the straight and clipping during a qualifying lap apparently does not feel like the pinnacle of motor racing. F1 seems to be turning into more of a strategy game requiring AI to figure things out, rather than the union of man and machine pushing it to the limits.
Sure, all these complications will result in more dropped balls and more overtaking, but it will be manufactured. You know, like a WWE wrestling match is really a song and dance routine rather than a competition. Driving “balls out” may no longer be an apt reference to racing in F1.
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