Wolff: Mercedes open to a loosening of the engine regulations
After Ferrari and Renault, it is now Mercedes' turn to show support, through Toto Wolff, for a possible relaxation of the rules related to the modification of power units in F1. This could notably allow engine suppliers to modify certain elements of their engine during the season.
Mercedes has taken a clear advantage this year, notably thanks to its more powerful 1.6L Turbo V6 engine compared to its rivals – Ferrari and Renault. And while the FIA has imposed an engine freeze, with a certain number of elements that can be modified during the offseasons, the Italian engine manufacturer expressed, through its team principal, its desire to see more flexibility for the engine manufacturers.
Renault had followed the Scuderia by also wishing for a possible thaw in the engine-related restrictions. It is now Mercedes’ turn, through Toto Wolff, to show openness to discussions about a potential easing of the rules.
Engine manufacturers are allowed to modify certain elements of the engine, but only between two seasons and the aim would be to allow some modifications during the season, as he explained to Sky Sports’ F1 Midweek Report: « You don’t want to liberalize the homologation and thawing, the question is being able to use these permissions throughout the year, but it’s still too early. We will meet again and discuss calmly and see what we can do, but we are rather open to everything. »
If the idea could help Renault and Ferrari catch up, Wolff believes that it could also allow Mercedes to improve and make its power unit more reliable: « Why not. If at the same time we can work on our engine then we have no problem. You don’t want it to be like GP2 where you have standard engines, so either you open things up and everyone develops as they see fit or you freeze everything. We are open to both proposals. »
