Ahead of the season opener, the Mercedes PU106A Hybrid appears to be the must have power unit...

The new Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 W05, McLaren MP4-29, Williams FW36 and Force India VJM07, are all powered by the technical revolution that is the PU106A Hybrid which combines a turbocharged direct in jection V6 engine with an advanced Hybrid Energy Recovery System to become the most advanced Power Unit in the history of Formula One.

The new engine regulations see the sport down-sizing from a 2.4 litre V8 to a 1.6 litre V6 while maximum revs have dropped from 18,000 rpm to 15,000 rpm.

To achieve higher and more efficient power output the new V6 is fitted with a turbocharging system and high-pressure direct fuel injection. This turbocharger uses the otherwise wasted exhaust gas to push more fresh air into the combustion chamber for enhanced fuel efficiency. Before reaching the air intake, the compressed air passes through an intercooler to increase its power density.

The Hybrid System is called the Energy Recovery System. It has two electrical devices, called Motor Generator Units, and the battery - called the Energy Store. The MGU-K, that harvests braking energy like the previous KERS system, and the MGU-H which is harvesting the turbo energy.

Both send power to the energy store when working as generators and when deployed, act as motors fed by the battery or each other’s energy. The electric motors on their own develop
more power than a family saloon car. It is the most advanced hybrid system yet seen in a race car.

This new technology is used to achieve maximum efficiency because Formula One is now a fuel-based racing formula. Each driver has a race fuel allowance of 100 kg from lights to flag - compared to around 150 kg in 2013.

To meet this challenge, Mercedes-Benz partner Petronas has developed tailor-made Fluid Technology Solutions with oil and fuel that are matched molecule by molecule to the engines
performance needs.

The result is that the new Power Unit gets over 30% more power out of every drop of fuel than the previous generation V8.