The shift to a 10% ethanol fuel requirement for 2022 has affected the performance of Mercedes’ power unit, the team have admitted.
Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free
Alongside the major technical regulation changes that reshaped the appearance and aerodynamics of Formula 1 cars for 2022, teams were also required to adopt a higher percentage of bio-components in the fuel used by their power units.
In a video posted to social media, Hywel Thomas, managing director of Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, explained that the new fuel specification has had a measurable impact on the Mercedes power unit’s behaviour.
“There have been bio-components in the fuel throughout the hybrid era,” Thomas said. “Previously the requirement was 5.75% by volume. The change this year increased that to 10%. Crucially, rather than allowing any bio-component, the regulations now specify ethanol.
“That means the engine responds slightly differently to the fuel. There are areas of performance we’re very happy with and other areas where we’re less satisfied. We must therefore adjust the fuel where possible and modify the power unit hardware where we can to amplify the benefits and reduce the downsides.”
Thomas added that, while the jump from 5.75% to 10% might sound modest on paper, it prompted the most intensive collaboration between Mercedes and fuel partner Petronas since the switch to the V6 turbo formula in 2014.
“Each year we work with Petronas to ensure the fuel complements the power unit and vice versa,” he said. “The move to E10 this year was probably the biggest fuel-related regulation change we’ve seen since 2014. It was a significant task to develop the new blends, test many candidate fuels, and validate them through single-cylinder testing and full V6 running. The scale of that work should not be underestimated.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
2022 F1 season
- Mercedes told me “you’re wrong” about 2022 car’s problems – Hamilton
- FIA confirms all 10 F1 teams complied with 2022 cost cap
- Steiner “not ashamed” of panning “slow” Schumacher in Drive to Survive
- Albon believes year out of F1 improved him as a driver
- Hamilton sees diversity gains in F1 years on from his ‘traumatising’ experience of racism
Browse all 2022 F1 season articles