A works team is a Formula 1 team that is fully owned and supported by a major automotive manufacturer and uses a power unit developed entirely in-house. Examples include Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull (through Honda/Ford). Works teams receive priority access to the latest power unit specifications, full manufacturer support, and the deepest resources. They are contrasted with customer teams, which purchase their engines from a manufacturer and typically receive a slightly older specification. Being a works team is widely considered a significant competitive advantage.
Example: Ferrari are the works team and their customer teams always receive last year’s power unit specification — that’s just the nature of the relationship.
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