Mercedes could start 2015 season with old power unit

Ryan Joseph Ramos January 18, 2015

If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, that, plus the development of the something new could still be under way. That’s how things stand for the defending Formula One constructors champion Mercedes AMG Petronas, who is reportedly set to use its 2014 power unit through the first four races of the 2015 season.

Engine suppliers Mercedes, Renault, and Ferrari were recently allowed by the FIA to conduct ongoing development for the power units throughout the 2015 season, allowing for up to a 48 percent change between last year’s designs to the final one for 2015. The percentage is based on ‘tokens’ assigned to specific parts within the power unit.

It was clear that freezing development throughout the season gave an advantage to the engine manufacturer that got it right the first time around, and in 2014, that was Mercedes by far. The team set records for one-two finishes and clinched the constructors title a few races from the double-points finale.

Of course, based on the existing designs, the engine ‘unfreeze’ could prove just as pivotal. If Mercedes could further improve its engine during the 2015 season, and if the other teams still lag behind, then we could be in for more of the same. Some reports have surfaced that by the time Mercedes gets around to using its new power unit design, it could offer as much as a 50hp increase in terms of power output.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner observed that the gap between Mercedes and the other engine makers could just as easily increase. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff also noted the same thing. While the general view is that the rule change will help the other engine suppliers, it is also of benefit to Mercedes.

There’s even a new fourth engine supplier, Honda, which was previously not allowed to alter its approved design, but has just been given the go-ahead to tweak throughout the season based on the average unused tokens among the other three prior to the first race of the season.