[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

According to Paddy Lowe, the merc PU was so good that the team and Toto were concerned it was too good and would turn it “to nearly idle” during qualifying to avoid tipping the performance to the FIA. He said the team had several “uncomfortable meetings with the Dahmer Board concerning the performance”.

“Toto and the Dahmer board were worried about the negative politics of looking too good”

“If Mercedes looked ridiculously good, something would be done about it.

There was a lot tension actually around the strangest of subjects, which was how good to look... by the way it was a good car car had terrific aerodynamics better than anyone actually which we use to track data, better than any car by far.
The debate would be how much we should turn up the engine. I’d get into a debate with Toto. He would say “that’s too much, we will look too good”. That was a big part of the discussion. That went on quite a long time.”

Source: Beyond The Grid - April 28

Spot on my friend !