FORMULA 3 ENGINES OF SUCCESS

History: The first Mercedes-AMG Formula 3 engine, named M271, was developed from the production engine of the C-Class and E-Class. The engine made its debut in the opening race of the 2002 German Formula 3 Championship at Hockenheim. Markus Winkelhock, who later became a DTM and Formula 1 driver, claimed the first victory for the Formula 3 engine at the Nürburgring in 2002. Between 2003 and 2012, drivers with Mercedes-Benz engines won seven out of nine possible drivers’ titles in the Formula 3 Euro Series. The FIA Formula 3 Championship has been contested since 2013. So far, the title has gone to drivers and teams powered by Mercedes.

Engine: The Mercedes-AMG F3 414 is based on fundamentally new engine regulations for the 2014 season that no longer prescribe the use of an engine from a production model. The F3 414 is a thoroughbred racing engine with four cylinders, a maximum capacity of two litres and direct injection. Under FIA regulations, the air restrictor has been increased in size from 26 to 28 mm, resulting in higher output: The Mercedes-AMG Formula 3 engine now develops well over 200bhp. Like its predecessor, the unit was developed by Mercedes-AMG motorsport partner HWA AG.

Bringing on young talent: Mercedes-AMG has a long tradition of developing young racing talent. During their time in Formula 3, a number of drivers, including triple Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport), four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and the youngest winner of a race in DTM history, Pascal Wehrlein, all utilised Mercedes-Benz engines. In 2016, Esteban Ocon was the 18th driver to move up into the DTM after competing in Formula 3 in a car powered by a Mercedes engine. New opportunities for nurturing young drivers in a systematic manner have now opened up in the AMG Customer Sports Programme since its successful introduction. The best illustration of this was the switch that Maximilian Götz has made from the gullwing race model to the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM in the 2015 season.