Mercedes face major Canadian GP test due to unusual F1 demand

After several F1 drivers aired their complaints about the performance of the new power units, the FIA took measures ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

It tackled energy management to reduce the clipping period and also sought to eliminate the lift-and-coast headache that had frustrated drivers during qualifying laps.

Following the weekend, the display was encouraging enough for the sport's CEO Stefano Domenicali to commend how F1 had been able to promptly modify the energy management parameters in order to allow drivers a more natural driving style.

His point of view was shared by Toto Wolff, who criticised those who continued to throw shade at the regulations.

However, it was well known that the Miami circuit was not one of the most demanding layouts from an energy harvesting point of view, so the result achieved was largely helped by the characteristics of the Miami track. 

The situation that the Montreal circuit could create this weekend is very different.

The famous Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is more complex in terms of energy recovery as the second and third sectors are characterised by a stop-and-go layout.

In particular, the final sector will be much more difficult for energy recovery and the long straight before the last chicane sits as an area in which super clipping and lift-and-coasting could appear once again.

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F1 pack to edge closer to Mercedes?

Another factor that will need to be considered, Montreal is a track where fuel consumption is higher than at other circuits. 

Therefore, recovery modes in which the internal combustion engine maintains high revs even during lifting, by increasing the MGU-K speed while also trying to keep turbo revs high, may not be adopted in such an extreme way as we have seen at other tracks.

But how could this impact Mercedes, who has won the opening four rounds of the campaign?

The Brixworth-built power unit may not be able to fully exploit its potential in terms of recharging capability at various points of the track due to being limited by the excessive fuel consumption required by the energy management strategies implemented successfully thus far.

Essentially, the regulatory measures adopted from Miami onward could face a severe test of their effectiveness in Canada.

But at the same time, we might witness a closing of the performance gap between the power units, which could result in closer on-track battles as teams scramble to manage their engines.

All of the management will be done as added focus is placed on the DUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) scheme, with the first phase coming into effect after the weekend.