Mercedes customers will choose whether to have one or two additional exhaust pipes this year, with the manufacturer opting for two.
New regulations regarding the exhausts require the 2016 cars to have a separate pipe from the wastegate which exits out of the rear of the car. Since 2014 the wastegate pipe has fed directly in to a single main exhaust pipe. However, it was acting as a silencer and so this year's regulations have been introduced in an attempt to increase the noise from the power unit.
With the regulations permitting up to two wastegate exhausts, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains managing director Andy Cowell says each of the customers will be allowed to make their own decisions over whether to have one or two additional pipes.
"It’s team choice," Cowell said. "We say that [the wastegate exit] is where you start and the pressure drop mustn’t be greater than X with a flow rate of Y, so it will be interesting to see what a lot of the cars have got."
Mercedes released a video of its new power unit for its 2016 car - the W07 - firing up on Monday, with a configuration of two wastegate pipes below the main exhaust.
SEE IT FIRST! The @MercedesBenz Silver Arrows fire up for 2016!! PLUS a glimpse of our great new pipes!!! #F1https://t.co/Qk87dSTixJ
— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) February 15, 2016
This year Mercedes will also supply Williams, Force India and Manor with power units.
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