Mercedes boss Toto Wolff agrees with Ferrari rival over rule change after meeting held

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff agreed with Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto that the MGU-H should be dropped from future engine regulations – but only as part of a compromise. Formula 1 is gearing up for its era-defining regulation changes to come in at the conclusion of this season. 

The sport will also introduce new power units from 2026, but the specific details surrounding the engines are yet to be confirmed.

Talks between spokespeople for each of the current suppliers – Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault – as well as representatives from the Volkswagen group have been ongoing in recent months. 

Honda, who are supplying the engine for Mercedes’ title rivals Red Bull, are the only power unit supplier not involved in talks as the Japanese motor company is set to leave the sport at the end of the 2021 season.

The teams are currently trying to find a way to reduce costs without devaluing the capital already invested in engines, as the suppliers are all in agreement that the current power units are too expensive.

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Mercedes’ Wolff confirmed talks took place in Italy and outlined the current state of play regarding the MGU-H.

“The MGU-H is going to be dropped if we can find alignment of many other points,” Wolff said.

“I think it is a compromise that at least… I cannot speak for anybody else but for Mercedes, we are prepared to enter in order to facilitate the entry of the Volkswagen group but there are several other topics where compromise needs to be found.

“If a compromise cannot be found, we will probably revert to the governance and have 2026 regulations that the FIA and FOM come up with.”

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Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto confirmed there have been plenty of informal conversations since the last official meeting in Austria. 

The Italian also suggested all teams are in agreement regarding the motor generator unit.

“A lot of discussions have happened since the last meeting in Austria, the next steps in defining the future of the power unit,” Binotto revealed.

“So far the discussions have been positive, all of the manufacturers agreeing to remove the MGU-H, and we are in agreement with that.

“There are a lot of details still to be discussed and agreed but generally speaking the discussion is positively on moving.”

Wolff’s Mercedes currently have an 18-point lead over title rivals Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship while Ferrari are in fourth, 13.5 points behind McLaren.

Formula 1 returns for the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi on September 26, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen holding a slender five-point lead over seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. 

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