Honda and Mercedes pushed the FIA to delay its ban on qualifying engine modes until the Italian Grand Prix, according to reports.
The two engine manufacturers reportedly told the sport’s governing body that they needed “more time on the test bench in order to comply with the new provisions.”
The in-season rule change, which will disallow teams from using so-called “party modes” during qualifying, was initially set to come into effect at this month’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Mercedes have claimed that the ban is an attempt by the FIA to make the Silver Arrows’ power unit and overall package less competitive, in the hopes of helping Red Bull and other teams challenge them for race wins.
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However, team principal Toto Wolff said it could in fact make them more competitive in the races.
Only time will tell whether or not this actually proves to be the case.
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