Mercedes accuses rivals of complaints over power unit legality
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff delivered a blistering rebuke to rival Formula One manufacturers on Monday, urging them to cease their complaints about the legality of his team’s 2026 power unit, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking at the Silver Arrows’ car launch, an animated Wolff directed his ire at Ferrari, Audi, and Honda, who have raised concerns with the FIA over Mercedes’ engine design. “So just get your s*** together,” Wolff declared, criticising his competitors for engaging in clandestine discussions instead of focusing on their own preparations.
The dispute centres on a technical clause within the FIA’s regulations governing compression ratios in internal combustion engines. Under the new 2026 rules, the compression ratio has been reduced from 18:1 to 16:1. However, the regulations state that measurements must be taken at ambient temperature while the car remains stationary in the pit lane.
Mercedes and Red Bull are believed to have identified that thermal expansion during track running could allow the ratio to approach the previous 18:1 level, a potential advantage reportedly yielding gains of up to 0.3 seconds per lap, prompting the three rival manufacturers to lodge formal complaints with the governing body.
Wolff maintained that Mercedes’ power unit fully complies with the regulations as written and measured. “The power unit is legal and corresponds to how the regulations are written, and corresponds to the checks, and how they are measured. That is what the FIA has said, and what the president of the FIA has said,” he explained.
The Mercedes boss suggested his rivals were manufacturing grievances ahead of the campaign’s commencement, remarking, “Maybe you want to find excuses before you’ve even started when things are not good.” He added that Mercedes had received consistent reassurances from the governing body throughout their communications.
Mercedes arrives at the new season with considerable momentum, having completed 500 laps across three days of testing—more than any other constructor on the grid. Pre-season testing continues in Bahrain from 11-13 February, with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix scheduled for 8 March.
George Russell has emerged as the early favourite for the drivers’ championship, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. “It’s always nice if your driver is the favourite,” Wolff acknowledged. “He deserves it because he’s one of the best.” However, he tempered expectations, noting Mercedes had yet to prove their package in competitive conditions. As the season draws near, the interplay of rivalry and regulation promises to shape the race ahead.
