21/04/2025 12:00
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has labelled the latest rumoured F1 engine
rule changes as a "joke", as he delivered an "American politics"
quip. A summit in Bahrain last week confirmed that the planned
2026 engine overhaul was to go ahead as planned, with the beefed-up
electrical systems set to be introduced. The engines are set to
almost triple the electrical energy available with up to 350kw
allowed in the batteries, with a 50-50 split in power between the
internal combustion engine and the battery. However, in
simulations, on circuits such as Monza with long-straights, it has
been found that cars could run out of electrical energy, thus
relying solely on the ICE for power. It was reported over the
Saudi weekend that talks are set to take place during the meeting
of the F1 Commission next week which could see power in races
capped at 200kw, but Mercedes boss Wolff is not a fan of the
proposal. "Reading the agenda of the F1 commission is almost as
hilarious as reading some of the comments that I see on Twitter on
American politics," he told media including RacingNews365. "I
really want to protect ourselves and make no comment, but it's a
joke. "A week ago, there was an engine meeting [in Bahrain] and now
things like this end up on the agenda again." Red Bull boss
Christian Horner, whose team is in the process of producing its own
in-house power unit for the first time, was also quizzed on the
proposal. "Mercedes seems very confident in the job they've done
for next year," Horner began when Wolff's comments were put to him.
"It is something we asked to be looked at two years ago, but it is
not something we've pushed to be on the agenda [in the F1
Commission] at all. "The FIA have gone away and done their
research, and what they desperately want to avoid is a lot of
lifting and coasting in grands prix, which is not good for the
sport. "It is not something we've lobbied for or asked for, and if
they're doing it in the interest of the sport, then you've got to
support it."
