FIA banning the latest Mercedes and Red Bull engine 'trick' explained - GPblog
FIA bans Mercedes and Red Bull qualifying power unit trick after Ferrari alert; abrupt 350 kW deployment deemed for emergencies only.
www.gpblog.comHere’s the latest on the Mercedes/Red Bull “trick” situation.
- What happened: The FIA moved to ban a qualifying engine/tracking technique used by Mercedes and Red Bull that allowed near-maximum deployment of power toward the end of a lap, after Ferrari flagged concerns about safety and legality. The ban aims to close a loophole in the energy deployment rules and prevent a potential advantage in qualifying.[3][4][5][7]
- Current status: The ban has been enacted and teams are required to comply, with the governing body also signaling that any remaining ambiguities would be clarified through further FIA procedures. The incident sparked widespread paddock debate and multiple outlets reported on the FIA’s intervention being a significant procedural tightening for 2026.[4][6][3]
- Practical impact: The immediate effect is a reduction in the effectiveness of late-lap “emergency mode” deployments, which could narrow the gap between Mercedes, Red Bull, and rivals in qualifying setups. Insiders suggested the time gains from the tactic were marginal, but the ruling removes a marginal advantage that could influence grid positions.[7][3][4]
- Reactions: Ferrari and other teams welcomed clarity from the FIA, while some fans and pundits described the move as a necessary but perhaps cosmetic fix, depending on how noticeable the performance difference remains in practice.[6][3]
Illustration: If you’d like, I can pull together a quick chart showing the reported qualifying edge attributed to the trick across recent events and how the FIA ban changes those numbers.
Would you like me to summarize official FIA statements and compile a concise timeline of key events with citations?