Mercedes has made "unprecedented" step with 2017 F1 engine

The German car manufacturer has had the benchmark powerunit since the new turbo V6 hybrid regulations came into play in 2014.

And although closest rivals Ferrari and Renault have made good gains over the past three years, Mercedes has always been able to stretch its advantage in the power stakes.

Ahead of the 2017 F1 season, it is widely accepted that Red Bull’s hopes of taking the fight to Mercedes rest on what progress Renault has made with its all-new engine for this year.

Speaking at the launch of Renault’s new F1 car in London on Tuesday, Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul said that his company’s power unit had made a 0.3-seconds step forward over the winter – with it hoping to make a similar step over the course of the season.

But Mercedes has not been sitting back waiting for the opposition to catch up, and it has emerged prior to the launch of its new car on Thursday that its 2017 unit has delivered a big step forward.

Force India technical director Andy Green, whose team runs Mercedes engines, has gone out of his way to heap praise on the progress made by Brixworth engineers.

When asked if he expected more power, he said: “Oh yes. That is what we have been promised.

“It is all part of the data input that goes into all our simulation data, it is part of it. Mercedes HPP (High Performance Powertrains) have done a fantastic job over the winter and made another unprecedented step. It is impressive.”

If Mercedes has been able to keep, or even extend its advantage, then it could be a big blow to the opposition – because power is expected to be even more important this year.

The wider tyres and wider cars this year have increased drag by 10 percent – which means car that are lacking power could be exposed on straights to faster rivals.

The progress on the engine front could be why Force India is so bullish about its prospects for 2017, with it clear in its target of fighting for third place in the constructors’ championship.

Green said: “I think it is an arms race, it is a war. We have got some really good soldiers with some really good weapons.

“We don’t have many of them but the ones we have got are really a crack unit and I think we can do a lot of damage with that. They are good shots.”