World Champion Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes should use the new Technical Directive as a “compliment” and finds the situation “amusing” ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
Formula 1 manufacturers have typically run different engine modes – most notably during qualifying, with particular settings providing drivers with extra speed.
Such settings would not be able to be run during grands prix for reliability purposes.
The FIA has introduced a new Technical Directive, in force from the upcoming round at Monza, that effectively outlaws the use of certain one-lap settings, casually referred to as ‘party mode’.
Mercedes has been the power benchmark for much of Formula 1’s hybrid era and has re-emerged as the fastest package this year following Ferrari’s private settlement with the FIA.
The reigning World Champions have taken all seven pole positions, largely uncontested, and have suffered only one race defeat, which came at the second Silverstone race.
“I find it quite amusing,” said Hamilton.
“The FIA said it was so they could manage everyone’s usage of the engine or something like that. And then Red Bull came and said we were the ones pushing for it! So completely different reasons why they did it.
“But I think it’s a compliment at the end of the day. Hopefully the guys at the factory see it as a compliment [that they are] doing such a fantastic job with the engine.
“We will continue to work and improve with the situation we are given and be interesting to see how it plays out during the weekend.”
Williams’ George Russell, whose FW43 is equipped with a Mercedes power unit, suggested earlier on Thursday that the package is likely to be relatively quicker in race trim due to the changes.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas also echoed such thoughts.
“I think in qualifying there will be a small difference, not huge, but in the race it seems like we’ll have a better race time with a decent amount all through the race,” he said.
“I think the team has really tried to maximise [the situation], we’ll see this weekend how it goes, it’s not going to change much.
“It’s just one strategic thing less [to worry about], so everything is just a bit more equal I guess.”
