Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner have both reacted positively to Formula 1’s pending ban on ‘party modes’
Earlier this week, the FIA informed teams that from the next race in Belgium, they plan to stop the use of special engine power modes that offer a performance boost over a short period, such as a qualifying lap.
It’s a decision many expect will hurt Mercedes more than most, as they are known for having what became known as a ‘party mode’, which in qualifying on Saturday helped their drivers improve by half a second between Q2 and Q3.
But asked about the change, Wolff sees it as a response to simplify the engine rules in the wake of the controversy surrounding Ferrari’s unit last year.
“I think the primary goal of the FIA was to implement the rule to better understand and better analyse what is actually going on with the engines,” he told reporters on Friday.
“It’s a very complex method between the combustion engine and all the energy recovery systems, and I think that by having one mode, it becomes more easy for the FIA to really see if everything is in compliance.”
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A day earlier, Lewis Hamilton had suggested the main aim by stopping party modes is to slow down Mercedes, but Wolff put the situation into a different light.
“It has always been the case in Formula 1 that putting back the leaders is something that is good for the sport,” he claimed.
“We see it very much as a challenge.
“We have a good quali mode, we’re able to give it a little bit more power in that last session, and if that is not possible anymore because everything needs to be smoothing out over the race, it’s not a deficit for us.
“On the contrary, we think we can translate that into more performance in the race.
“And that is something which is a great challenge and which we will take on once the rule is implemented.”
On the contrary, Red Bull is considered a potential beneficiary as the new regulation may peg back the single-lap advantage of Mercedes.
“We were encouraged with the engine technical directive that they’re talking about,” said team boss Horner. “That could close up the racing.
“It’ll affect all teams, the question is how much? These qualifying modes have been pushed and developed over the years.
“I think it’s something that with exhaust-blowing, for example, we had to run a standard map throughout the weekend. This is just adopting a similar methodology to that, which I think is a sensible for Formula 1.”
The Red Bull boss also noted the ban will also bring financial benefit to the engine makers during this time of Covid-19.
“There’s inevitably enormous costs associated with developing these different modes,” he said. “And I think that actually it’s a healthy thing for the manufacturers and I think anything that creates better and closer racing is positive for Formula 1.”
