Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari lock-out proves Mercedes does not have 'party mode' engine setting

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes' failure to out-qualify either Ferrari in Bahrain shows speculation about the team's so-called "party mode" engine setting has been overblown.

Lewis Hamilton's pole lap in Australia has prompted much talk about Mercedes' engine "party mode". But how does it work, and how much advantage does it give the world champions?

Hamilton claimed pole at the Melbourne opener by 0.6s, a lap Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo likened to Mercedes giving the rest of the paddock the middle finger and throwing a pie in everyone's face. It seemed to indicate Mercedes had lost none of the one-lap advantage it has held throughout the V6 turbo era.

However, Hamilton and Mercedes have…