FIA banning the latest Mercedes and Red Bull engine 'trick' explained
FIA bans Mercedes and Red Bull qualifying power unit trick after Ferrari alert; abrupt 350 kW deployment deemed for emergencies only.
www.gpblog.comHere’s what’s known about the latest FIA action on the Mercedes/Red Bull qualifying trick:
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The FIA has banned a qualifying power-unit trick used by Mercedes and Red Bull, after concerns were raised and Ferrari reportedly petitioned the governing body. The ban targets a method that allowed an emergency-style boost or bypass of certain performance controls on the approach to the timing line. This is the core development the news cycle has focused on in mid-April 2026.[3][4][5]
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Teams were instructed that the technique should only be used in genuine emergencies to prevent component damage, not for performance gains. The directive clarifies that the trick is no longer permissible as a routine means to gain an advantage in qualifying.[5][3]
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Several outlets summarized the move as the FIA closing a loophole that had allowed extra battery/MGU-K power delivery at the end of laps, effectively ending the practice for this season unless used under strict safety circumstances.[10][3][5]
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Reactions and explanations vary by outlet, with technical analyses emphasizing that the change closes a gray area and reduces the risk of unintended engine or electrical damage while restoring parity concerns among teams.[7][8][9]
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For context, coverage also noted that the ban followed inquiries and that the safety case cited by the FIA and Ferrari’s input helped drive the decision. Several pieces also discussed potential implications for Singapore and subsequent races, though the core rule change is focused on qualifying procedures rather than race-day operations.[9][3][7]
Illustration: A quick summary of the change
- Before: Mercedes/Red Bull used a qualifying trick to gain small but meaningful speed at the end of laps.
- After: FIA banned the technique unless it’s an emergency safeguard; teams must not rely on it for advantage.
- Impact: Likely equalizes some qualifying performance and prevents potential safety concerns.
Would you like a concise, side-by-side grid of what each major outlet is saying about the ban, or a short explainer on how the affected systems work and why the FIA deemed it unsafe? I can also pull a brief timeline of events and list upcoming races potentially affected. I’ll include citations after each factual claim.