Mercedes has gained a key engine advantage over Ferrari and the other suppliers for the remainder of the season after the FIA omitted them from new oil burning limits set to be imposed from the Italian Grand Prix.
The subject of mixing oil with fuel for extra performance was first brought up by Red Bull at the end of last year, with the team believing Mercedes and Ferrari were doing so to improve power in qualifying, the debate has continued throughout the year and now a guideline is set to be introduced in Monza.
However, because the Brackley-based team brought forward a planned engine update introducing the new specification at the Belgian Grand Prix rather than waiting for this weekend's race and is now part of their allocation for the season, the governing body has ruled they will not be permitted to abide by the new limit.
“To be clear if an engine (ICE element) is introduced at or after the Monza race weekend, its oil consumption needs to be below 0.9L/100km whenever it is used,” an FIA spokesman confirmed.
“If an engine (ICE element) has been introduced at or before the Spa race weekend, its oil consumption needs to be below 1.2L/100km whenever it is used.”
This means that in qualifying, where Mercedes already hold an engine advantage, the ability to run a richer fuel mix could see Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas able to start ahead of the Ferraris in the races, particularly on power circuits, and during the race too when defending or attacking the extra boost could prove decisive.
Aware of the likely anger this could cause at Maranello, Motorsport boss Toto Wolff told Autosport: “We are fierce competitors but the relationship we have is that we stick our heads together if there is a problem, and we discuss it behind closed doors.
“It hasn’t come up and we need to be careful that things are not made up in the public that are just not right, and not true.
"So far, I’m easy about it,” he added.
Also disadvantaged are Mercedes' customers who will get the same Spa-spec engine in a few races but will have to adhere to the new oil burn limit.
