Hamilton suggests Mercedes still using hidden 'party mode' engine setting
Summary
Lewis Hamilton hints Mercedes may be exploiting a loophole to use a special high-power engine mode in qualifying, drawing parallels to the old 'party mode'. He notes a significant performance gap appears specifically in Q2 and Q3, which then narrows during the race, raising questions about the 2026 power unit regulations.
Lewis Hamilton has implied his former team, Mercedes, possesses a hidden engine performance mode reserved for qualifying sessions, a tactic reminiscent of the banned 'party mode' era. His comments come after Mercedes locked out another front row in China, with Hamilton's Ferrari finishing over three-tenths behind in qualifying despite showing closer race pace.
Original Article :https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13519144/chinese-gp-lewis-hamilton-makes...
