Toto Wolff says it doesn’t matter to his Mercedes team how the voting process on the compression rule turns out. The FIA previously announced that the five engine manufacturers – Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull Powertrains, Honda and Audi – will be given the opportunity to jointly decide on the introduction of a possible second testing method. Although that wouldn’t be such a big problem for Wolff, he is ‘philosophically’ against it: ‘But this has happened more often in the long history of F1’.
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It has been a popular subject of speculation for weeks: Mercedes’ alleged engine trick. The Silver Arrows have reportedly found a loophole in the 2026 regulations. This allows the compression ratio of the W17 to be increased to 18:1 on the track. When the FIA performs static tests for this ratio, it does comply with the permitted 16:1. The governing body previously announced that it had sent an e-vote to all five engine manufacturers to vote on the introduction of a second test. This way, the compression ratio would also be measured from August when the car has the same higher temperature as when it is running on the track.
Despite the fact that Mercedes could be the biggest victim in the event of an agreement on a second measurement, team principal Toto Wolff is not worried. “We don’t care whether the current rules remain or whether the FIA proposal is approved electronically,” the team principal told the media. “I think everyone is worrying about something that is not that important. If the figures that are often mentioned are correct, I would understand the reason for the discussion. But in reality, it’s not such a big problem.” For Mercedes, a possible second control method did not matter either. “We want to make a good contribution to the sport.”
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‘Is this the right way of working?’
Yet Wolff is not entirely happy with the way the other engine manufacturers might bring the new testing method to life. “We develop parts according to the rules. When these are confirmed as legal, other teams join forces and question it. Is that the right way of working? Philosophically, I don’t agree with it. But this has happened more often in the long history of F1. Now we are in that situation. Maybe we’ll do it to someone else next time,” the team principal concludes.
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