Mercedes Brag of Having Best Engine, KERS in F1

Many have argued prior to the 2011 Formula 1 season that Red Bull Racing would be practically unbeatable in the series had they put their hands on a Mercedes Benz V8 this year. From the looks of it though, it seems the Austrian team is doing pretty well without it.

Renault's V8s – that the reigning world champions use for the time being – are commonly viewed as the most fuel efficient powerplants in F1. Fewer fuel means smaller and less heavy fuel tanks, and this could translate into a small weight advantage for the teams using those engines in the series.

However, Mercedes' motorsport director Norbert Haug made a clear distinction between “effective” and “the best”, saying that the former attribute should not be mistaken by the latter.

“Using less fuel than your competitor is generally because you have less power,” he said recently, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. “I think that in specific consumption, we look very good. In absolute consumption, for the reason I gave, maybe I prefer if we are not the very best.”

“I don't know the numbers of our competitors, but our engine as well as our KERS are repeatedly referred to as the yardstick in the industry. We haven't claimed this ourselves, but many have argued it. That our competitors do highly competent work, whether they are called Ferrari, Renault or Cosworth, there is no doubt.”

According to a recent claim made by Renault Sport F1, the F1-spec V8s (RS27) produced by the French manufacturer save up to 10 percent of fuel compared to its competitors during a race.