Toto Wolff says it doesn’t matter to his team how the vote over the compression rule plays out. The FIA earlier announced that the five engine manufacturers – Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull Powertrains, Honda and Audi – will be given the opportunity to jointly decide on introducing a possible second test method. While Wolff says that’s not a major problem for him, he is ‘philosophically’ opposed to it: ‘But this has happened before in F1’s long history.’
It’s been weeks of speculation: the alleged engine trick by Mercedes. The Silver Arrows are said to have found a loophole in the 2026 regulations that would allow the W17’s on-track compression ratio to be raised to 18:1. When the FIA carries out the static tests for that ratio, however, it still complies with the permitted 16:1. The governing body has already said it sent an e-vote to all five engine manufacturers to vote on introducing a second test — one that would, from August, measure the compression ratio when the car is at the same higher temperature it experiences on track.
Despite Mercedes potentially being the biggest casualty if a second measurement were agreed, team principal Toto Wolff is unconcerned. “It doesn’t matter to us whether the current rules remain in place or whether the FIA proposal is approved electronically,” the team principal told the media. “I think everyone is getting worked up about something that isn’t that important. If the figures that are often quoted are correct, I would understand the reason for the debate. But in reality it’s not such a big problem.” For Mercedes, a possible second measurement would therefore make no difference. “We want to make a positive contribution to the sport.”
‘Is this the right way to work?’
Still, Wolff is not entirely happy with the way other engine manufacturers may have brought the new testing method into play. “We develop components according to the rules. When these are confirmed as legal, other teams join forces and challenge them. Is that the right way of working? Philosophically, I disagree. But this has happened before in F1’s long history. Now we find ourselves in that situation. Maybe next time we’ll be the ones doing it to someone else,” the team principal concluded.
