Mercedes customers have had 'identical' engines - Wolff

Toto Wolff insists Formula 1's new directives to ensure parity between engine suppliers and their customers have not been prompted by Mercedes' clients. Williams and Force India have both used power units provided by the constructors' champions over the past four seasons.

Force India have been powered by Mercedes since 2009, while Williams switch to the German manufacturer saw the British squad vaulted into the fight at the front early in the hybrid era, although they have since slipped further down the grid.

Ferrari and Renault also supply engines to teams on the grid. Renault powered Red Bull's four consecutive world titles, but have struggled to keep momentum with the Silver Arrows' development.

Reports had suggested that new rules to ensure customer teams received current-spec hardware had been prompted by those taking Mercedes units, but Wolff says that is not the case.

"I don't think any of our customers was pushing for it," Wolff told Motorsport.

"It's not relevant for us, because the rules have been in place for a while that you must supply the customers with the same hardware and software from a power unit standpoint, and we've always done that.

"Identical modes for the customers and us. There has never been any difference. They have the same mileage allowance as the works team, there is no difference whatsoever.

"That's why we have no problem with that. If there is any suspicion out there, it certainly wasn't anything that would have any consequence for us.

"We have the belief that sharing modes and engine calibration among six cars triggers a steeper learning curve for us than running different engine specifications between the customers and the works team."