FIA bans Mercedes, Red Bull qualifying shortcut; Brundle warns Aston Martin crisis deepens

Why it matters:

• The FIA’s move to block a qualifying shortcut forces teams to stick to the power‑unit reduction rule, preserving technical parity.
• Aston Martin’s ongoing slump shows how the cost‑cap era can trap a team with no quick path back to competitiveness.

The details:

• Qualifying loophole: Ferrari flagged that Mercedes and Red Bull briefly disabled the MGU‑K to avoid the 20% power cut on the final straight. The gain was marginal and Mercedes had already dropped the method after Japan, but the rule’s vague “emergency” wording prompted FIA action.
• Aston Martin crisis: Martin Brundle called the team’s lack of pace and reliability a “nightmare”, noting the relentless calendar and strict budget limit any quick recovery.

What's next:

• FIA will likely tighten the MGU‑K emergency definition to close the loophole for future qualifying.
• Aston Martin must target reliability and aero upgrades within the cost cap, a fix that will likely take several races.
• The ongoing grid dynamics mean that any improvement by Aston Martin could pressure front‑runners, while the clarified qualifying rules restore confidence in race‑day performance.