One measure that brings a speed record into the realms of possibility is the phenomenal amounts of power modern F1 engines are producing. While the engine-makers remain understandably coy regarding absolute figures, senior Mercedes engineers are happy to claim their current powerplant as the most powerful race engine in the history of the sport.
The word ‘race’ is an important distinction. The previous turbo era of the mid-1980s saw teams building qualifying engines of prodigious output. Those one-lap wonders were capable of well over 1000hp - but were reduced to scrap after a short run. The most powerful race engines were a product of the early 21st century, producing 900-940hp in the final years of the V10 era. It is these that the current turbo-hybrids have finally outgunned.
2005 vs 2016: a very different formula
If cars are more powerful now, why are they not automatically faster? Mercedes’ executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe explains that F1 was a very different beast in 2005. “Tyres were different in those days because there was tyre competition [between different manufacturers] - a tyre war. They had more grip, and with a higher grip solution you could take some wing off the car. Also, the cars were a lot lighter [around 100kg lighter] than they are today. So we have slightly more power but we’re heavier and have a bit less grip.”
There is also the issue of fixed ratios in the gearbox. “In those days you had to choose gear ratios, whereas now we’re stuck with whatever we picked for the season so [on high-speed circuits] gearing for EOS is off the table as an issue now. We’re purely picking the wing.”
