F1technical.net

Mercedes is reportedly set to be the power to have in Formula 1′s new V6 turbo engine era with the Brixworth built unit set to have a huge advantage over those from rival engine builders.

With the development-frozen V8 engines to be replaced by radically-different turbo units in 2014, a new era where power is more important than aerodynamics looks likely.

Mercedes, already a leader at the tail end of the long V8-power era, could be in pole position to usurp Red Bull’s position at the very top of the tree.

Hungary winner Lewis Hamilton is now an outside chance for this year’s title, but the Briton was actually lured to Mercedes “on the promise that he will be able to take on (Sebastian) Vettel in 2014,” wrote Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner.

So far, Formula 1′s three V6 engine makers – Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari – have kept their cards close to their respective chests.

“There are signs that Mercedes is one step ahead”, Gruner reported.

“In the paddock, it is said behind closed doors that the silver engine has 100 horse power more on average than the Renault or Ferrari.

“Mercedes is not confirming that, obviously. But those in charge are giving an unusually confident impression,” he added.

One sign that Mercedes is indeed speeding ahead is an argument about the specification of next year’s Pirelli tyres.

Mercedes has been pushing hard for a wider rear tyre, which would better transfer the power and torque of a superior engine to the track.

Ferrari and Renault, on the other hand, are reportedly happy with the narrower status-quo. (GMM)

http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/ ... e_in_2014/

diego1960 wrote:100HP more? I don't find this realistic, I don't know about you. It's not like Renault or Ferrari are amateurs in the engine department. If the HP difference was about 10-15HP I might have thought it as probable.

From what we know though, It's not so much about power as it is about the torque, level of fuel needed to complete a race etc. Mercedes' V8 was pretty bad at this from what we hear. The question is, can they do something better with the new engine?

marcush. wrote:well that would be not a loophole but a barndoor ?!?
I don´t think Daimler is anywhere as far in front in terms of technology ...so it would be something rather controversial again ..a la double deck difussers .
FIA are consistant in being very selective on who is allowed to push the boundaries in terms of rule interpretation so it well
could be there is something others have ruled out on grounds of regs but MERC is pursuing it anyways..?

SectorOne wrote:I think the 100 figure is made up by the news site. There´s no mention of any 100hp advantage in the actual quotes.

Tim.Wright wrote:I'm not an engine man but a 100hp difference with a fuel flow regulated engine seems very unlikely. To me it seems someone is comparing power numbers that they have heard without worrying about what condition those power numbers were made in. Its quite likely the Mercedes number may have been with ERS and the others without, but a journalist is not interested in stupid details like that...

Anyway, you are never going to get meaningful comparison figures on these engines even if you have a good relationship with the developers. Reason being is that every manufacturer will have their own method of quantifying engine power (e.g. which ERS configuration, fuel mapping etc). Plus a well known fact is that power readings differ from dyno to dyno. Add to that the fact that the engine designs are still in a state of flux...

Add up all of these uncertainties and you will probably see that any comparison at this stage is pretty meaningless...

FoxHound wrote: And it would not surprise me in the slightest that the perpetrators behind the story are the ones with the most to lose in this new era, the ones that are dominating now.