Video: The secret to Mercedes’ F1 power advantage

Craig Scarborough uncovers the secrets of what is currently the best engine in F1. There's a twist in the tail, too: with his own illustrations, Craig shows us what ISN'T depicted on the official film.

Perhaps the single biggest development in the Mercedes power unit is that the turbocharger and the compressor sit on opposite sides of the engine; the turbo still sits at the back, but the compressor is at the front of the 1.6-liter V6 and the two are connected by a long shaft that runs through the engine's vee. Locating the compressor away from the turbo allows cooler, denser air to enter the engine, providing more power, and shortens the length of ducting necessary to get the air from the compressor through the intercooler and into the cylinders, meaning less turbo lag.