Ferrari's begun trial of Mercedes F1 qualifying trick

Ferrari has begun testing Mercedes' F1 qualifying lift-off trick, which allows drivers to maintain maximum 350kW battery power deployment across the timing line by lifting off the throttle before the battery hits 0%, bypassing the standard ramp down rate rules. Mercedes originally used an emergency MGU-K shutdown method, which was banned by the FIA after the Japanese Grand Prix, but revived a legal version from the British GP onwards. Ferrari is now trialling the same technique in its bid to challenge for pole positions, as reported by The Race on July 28, 2026.