Wolff explains PU penalty deterrent - "We will blow an engine every race"

Ian Parkes
Thursday 22 September 2022 04:00

Toto Wolff feels F1's power unit grid penalties have now become "too complicated", although recognises there needs to be a deterrent to prevent an arms race.

The recent Italian Grand Prix brought into the spotlight the PU penalty system as nine drivers were punished for their teams' inability to manage the prescribed limits.

The upshot was confusion amongst teams, drivers, fans and media as to who was lining up in which position until the FIA finally published a provisional grid four hours after qualifying had ended.

Questioned on the need and complexity of the current system, Wolff said: "We must remind ourselves why we have that.

"On the chassis side, we are cost capped. We weren't before. On the engine side, we are not cost-capped yet.

"If there are no grid penalties, we would have qualifying engines - not five but 20.

"The big teams would spend what they want in order to have an advantage and that is why there needs to be a certain factor that avoids that. That is where it is coming from."

As to whether the penalties had become too complicated, Wolff added: "For sure. We need to reconsider when the engine cap kicks in.

"But still, we don't want to have an arms race on engines being brought because whatever freedom they give us, we will do it and we will do it even more strategically.

"If it is only five or 10 places, we will blow an engine every race because it is going to be three-tenths [of a second] quicker than the one before.

"So there needs to be a certain deterrent."