FLOYD ON F1: Mercedes powerunit concerns worrying Wolff

It seems F1 chief Stefano Domenicali is determined to ensure a 23 event calendar for 2022.

This has caused dissention among many involved with the sport by shortening a certain traditional Grand Prix weekend, to bring it into line with all other races. The race concerned is the iconic “jewel in the crown”, the Monaco GP.

Thursday practice sessions used to be followed by a free day on Friday before restarting on Saturday, a tradition that dates back to the first F1 championship in 1950 when the extra day was introduced to honour the religious festival of Ascension Day

In an interview with CNN Sport, Domenicali said: “Monaco will be three days, straight away. So Friday, Saturday and Sunday instead of Thursday, hold, and then Saturday and Sunday.”

This was confirmed by race promoter the Automobile Club de Monaco. To put it in the words of a regular attendee “There goes the glamour and a great four days away”!

The durability of power units has become a major issue in the 2021 season and could become the factor that decides the title.

This year’s allocation of power unit components is three internal combustion engines, three turbochargers, three motor generator units – heat, three motor generator units – kinetic, two electronic stores, two control electronics and eight exhaust systems.

Any car exceeding these numbers will be subject to grid penalties in the following race and it appears to be worrying Mercedes chief Toto Wolff as he has some concerns over the Mercedes powerunits.

Back-to-back grid penalties at Monza and Sochi and issues for other Mercedes-powered teams, have led to what Wolff refers to, as “reassessing” the engine performance.

He was reported as saying, At the moment we are reassessing the performance of the power units because we have question marks and therefore haven’t decided which engines would go back into the pool.”

All 20 drivers have used three power units, some are on four and Mercedes’ driver Valtteri Bottas is on his fifth. With Max Verstappen having gone to number four in Russia, one has to wonder if and when Lewis Hamilton will follow suit.

With the Japanese Grand Prix yet another victim of Covid earlier this year, the good news is that the vacant slot has been filled.

The Losail International Circuit in Qatar will host the Qatar Grand Prix from 19 to 21 November, backed by title sponsor Oordoo, an international communications company. The Losail circuit, just outside the capital Doha, is best known to two wheel enthusiasts due to the MotoGP.

The experience of the organisers, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and the Qatari authorities, have made it possible to fill the slot at short notice. The race will be leg three of a triple header with Mexico and Brazil.

Further good news is the confirmation of a Qatar F1 GP contract for the next 10 years, starting in 2023.