© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
It is very likely that the FIA will ban the special power unit “party mode” used only in qualifying. Toto Wolff believes it will not slow Mercedes down.
The move is believed to be aimed at taking qualifying performance from Mercedes, who have been famous for their special qualifying power unit setting. Mercedes’ team boss Toto Wolff doesn’t believe they will be successful.
“At the end of the day you take performance away from different teams,” the Austrian told Sky Sports F1.
“We’ve been concentrating for years that this particular aspect works and now you come in from the far left and say, ‘We don’t want this anymore’.”
Wolff went on to explain how this new rule might even benefit Mercedes.
“I think, in the end, I think it’s just a new challenge for us. If this ‘party mode’ takes a few laps away from us in qualifying, then we can go up four or five times in the race with more power. And right now it’s the race that’s our weakness, not qualifying.
“Maybe they’ll even do us a favour,” concluded the Austrian.
