Mercedes believe power unit spending cap is crucial for future of F1
Mercedes believe power unit spending cap is crucial for future of F1
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has called for a spending cap on power units if Formula 1 is to attract new manufacturers in the wake of Honda's withdrawal at the end of 2021.
The introduction of a $145mllion budget cap for each team comes into force next year, although that does not apply to power units, to any of the current manufacturers in terms of development costs or to the customers with regard to purchasing.
While the 1.6-litre V6 turbo-hybrid systems have been one of F1's greatest achievements given the level of technology and transfer to road cars, it has barely failed to recover from the early negativity surrounding reliability, and the lack of noise compared to its V10 predecessor.
Wolff feels it is now time for F1 to introduce a cap on the power unit, as it has done for many other areas of a team's expenditure.
"With the hybrid introduction, it was an engineering exercise: what kind of engine can we actually develop?" assessed Wolff.
"We didn’t realise that we would have a fantastic engine with, today, more than 50 per cent thermal efficiency that doesn’t exist in any other sport.
"'But] We started the messaging around it in 2014 with Bernie [Ecclestone saying] that this is really not at all good for Formula 1, that the noise is not enough.
"You can’t sell your product by talking negatively about it, and we’re still lacking the messaging that these engines are fantastic hybrid technology, but they’re much too expensive.
"So we need to introduce a spending cap for power units, that’s clear, like we’ve done on the chassis side in order to make it more sustainable and in order to attract other OEMs [original equipment manufacturer] in the future."
F1 is due to change power unit regulations from 2026, although with Honda to pull out, it has led to the question as to whether the earlier introduction of new rules might have resulted in the Japanese manufacturer remaining on board.
Wolff believes such a call would have been detrimental for all concerned, and while Honda's exit is frustrating, the least F1 can do now is make the right decisions moving forwards.
"Should we have changed the regulations? The problem is if we had changed them earlier it would have meant an additional investment for all of us, which wouldn’t have been sustainable, and after a couple of years, three, four years, you’re starting all over again.
"Where we all came together: Honda, Ferrari, Renault and ourselves was that after 2025 would be the right time.
"Certainly, a cost cap and some kind of freeze needs to be introduced earlier, bearing in mind we need the status where all engines are about equal. We don’t want to have a situation where we’re freezing power units and there are big discrepancies in performance.
"But going forward, we all need to all sit around a table, discuss what is the right technology for the real world, how can we simplify technology in order to spend less and then have a new format that everybody buys into from 2026 onwards."
Before you go...
Racing Point forced to dig itself out of a hole with 2021 regulations
Gasly targeting shock overhaul of Ferrari
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Horner investigation TOLL on Verstappen revealed as question marks arise over Hamilton Ferrari switch
- 2 hours ago
Horner accuser 'angry and upset' over Red Bull SNUB as Perez bemoans lack of clarity - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
F1 fans provide SHOCK reaction to Verstappen Australian GP comments
- Yesterday 22:57
Ricciardo makes SHOCK F1 admission - ‘I wanted it to be over’
- Yesterday 21:57
Verstappen 'doesn't like' AWKWARD Red Bull Horner questions
- Yesterday 20:57
F1 champion issues DOUBT over Hamilton Ferrari move
- Yesterday 19:58
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
- GP AUSTRALIA 22 - 24 Mar
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
Related news
F1 Schedule: When is the next race and where it will be held?
F1 Australian Grand Prix weather forecast: Melbourne gears up for mixed conditions
Hamilton hits out at 'SHOCKING' Mercedes performance
F1 regulations DON'T help competitive racing insists Mercedes chief
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860