13/11/2014
NEWS STORY
Mercedes Motorsport boss Toto Wolff has dismissed talk of an engine spending war in 2016.
As his team prepares for a season finale in which one its drivers will be crowned world champion, Wolff has other things on his mind.
With Mercedes unwilling to allow a full engine-unfreeze for 2015, essentially allowing its rivals to close the gap but also make progress itself, those same rivals are threatening an all-out free-for-all in 2016.
For 2015, the regulations dictate that unanimous agreement is required for the unfreeze whilst in 2016 such changes can be made on a majority vote.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner is leading the criticism of Mercedes stance warning that failure to give some leeway now will result in a spending war in 2016.
"Nobody can really be in favour of an all-out engine war in 2016," says Wolff. "No serious company would allow that to happen. And none of the current engine suppliers can allow that to happen because costs would be escalating totally out of control. It's irresponsible.
"Renault and Mercedes are aligned on their strategy on where the engine should be," he added. "On a motorsport level, between the two departments Renault sport and Mercedes motorsport, we are fully agreed."
Referring to claims that the sport could yet revert to the old V8 powerplants, he said: "If we dropped the current format I can guarantee for sure that Renault and Mercedes would not be interested in supplying any other power unit because of the stability and sustainability of the sport and the road relevance of the hybrid technology. We should be promoting the technology of those engines."
Furthermore, it is the new formula which has attracted Honda, which, unlike HRT, Marussia and Caterham, would not take being enticed into the sport under false pretences lying down.