Max Verstappen contradicts Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. The Austrian claimed in Bahrain that the much-discussed engine trick his team is accused of doesn’t actually produce that much power. Verstappen says the Silver Arrows were mostly sandbagging during the first test week: “Just wait until Melbourne and see how much power they suddenly have.”
In the run-up to the season start in Melbourne one word keeps cropping up in the paddock: compression ratio. Reportedly Mercedes has found a way to raise that ratio — which can deliver lap-time gains on track — without breaching the FIA’s regulations during the static tests. According to Toto Wolff, that time gain is modest. “It’s only a few hp,” the team principal said last Wednesday in Bahrain. “It’s two to three hp. During a Grand Prix that’s actually negligible.”
Wolff’s comments were put to Max Verstappen a day later. “You have to add a zero to that for sure,” the world champion said, referring to the Austrian’s “two to three hp” claim. “Maybe even more. But you know, I get what they’re doing these days. I’ll tell you one thing: wait until Melbourne and see how much power they suddenly have. I already know that.”
Sandbagging?
According to Verstappen, Mercedes are sandbagging right now — a familiar tactic in F1 ahead of a new season. Teams aren’t running at the true pace their cars are capable of. “I understand what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to shift the pressure onto us, also because we (on Wednesday, ed.) did so many laps. Just wait until Melbourne. Then you’ll see how fast they are down the straight,” Verstappen said. “Look back over the last ten years of winter testing. I don’t think you can say on day one who’s going to be world champion, especially not with a new set of rules like this.”
“For me personally it’s more a distraction manoeuvre,” the world champion added. “But that’s fine. I’m focused on what we’re doing here with the team. Because honestly we still have so much to learn. These new rules are so complex that we just want to do our laps. And yes, we’ll see from there.”
