P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The FIA has reportedly moved to outlaw a Formula 1 qualifying tactic used by Mercedes and Red Bull-powered teams to gain a small but valuable performance edge at the end of a lap. The trick is centred on energy deployment during qualifying. Normally, drivers must gradually reduce electrical power as they approach the timing line, […]
The FIA has banned a Formula 1 qualifying tactic used by Mercedes and Red Bull-powered teams to gain a performance edge at the end of a lap. This involved shutting down the MGU-K momentarily to get extra power. The loophole provided a small but valuable boost, usually just hundredths of a second. However, the tactic was ruled against the spirit of the competition due to safety and reliability concerns. The FIA has now clarified that the MGU-K shutdown should only be for genuine technical issues, not for performance gains. Eliminating this loophole will likely lead to closer competition at the front of the grid.
