Mercedes: "That is probably the biggest rule change we've had since 2014"

One of the biggest rule changes for the 2022 Formula One season, is to switch from E5 to E10 fuel. According to Hywel Thomas, boss of Mercedes' engine department, it even counts as the biggest rule change since the introduction of the hybrid era.

Since the announcement, the four engine manufacturers, along with their suppliers, have been working hard to develop new fuels and make the engines more efficient with the higher bio content. For Red Bull Racing, the switch would be a key reason for wanting Honda's full support ahead of the new season.

Mercedes faces challenge with E10 fuel

Mercedes are also noticing the effect of the change. "The switch to E10 is probably the biggest rule change we've had since 2014," Thomas said in a video on the YouTube-channel of Mercedes. "So it was quite an undertaking to make sure we actually develop this fuel."

Thomas stressed that one should "not underestimate" the amount of work that was required to do so. According to the Brit, the challenge lies not only in the increased bio content, but also in the fact that it must be sustainable ethanol.

In doing so, teams are no longer allowed to use other bio-components, but only ethanol. "That means the engine will react a little bit differently to the fuel," Thomas continued. "So there are certain performance areas that we are very happy with, but also areas that we are frankly less happy with."