Short for Power Unit Modes, these are settings drivers can adjust during a race to manage engine performance, fuel consumption, and hybrid deployment. In the glory days of “party mode,” Mercedes drivers could summon extra horsepower at the press of a button. Since 2020, engine mode flexibility has been restricted to curb those wild quali boosts — but modes still matter. Drivers now use different ones for attacking, defending, saving fuel, or surviving when things get spicy. It’s engine strategy, but in nerd mode.
