P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has made the extraordinary claim that Mercedes may hold a significant speed advantage over that of its rivals this year.
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya claims that Mercedes may have a bigger speed advantage than initially believed due to their power unit’s manipulation of new regulations. Despite Red Bull also exploiting the loophole, Mercedes is expected to continue with their current setup. Team Principal Toto Wolff has expressed confidence in the legality of their power unit and has received support from the FIA’s president. Montoya suggested that Mercedes may still have untapped performance potential and could be significantly faster if they push harder. The alleged advantage of the Mercedes power unit has raised concerns among other teams and could lead to a protest if it translates into dominance on the track. McLaren, Williams, and Alpine, as Mercedes customers, may also benefit from any potential advantage.
