- Mercedes
New engines would kill F1 - Wolff
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Formula One would be "digging its own grave" if it follows Red Bull's proposal to ditch the current V6 turbo power units for simplified versions.
Horner suggested at the Brazilian Grand Prix that F1 should revert to the V8s used for the last eight years as the costs of the new V6 turbos was damaging the sport. In Abu Dhabi he revised that suggestion by proposing a simplified version of the current power units from 2016 onwards to save costs.
But Mercedes, whose success this year has been based on its innovative power unit, believes simplifying technology goes against everything F1 stands for.
"First of all, I fully agree that we have a big responsibility for all teams and we need to look at the costs but you can't turn the time back," Wolff said. "Formula One is the pinnacle and the pinnacle of technology as well and it is important to attract engine manufacturers in the sport, and actually have brought Honda back into the sport."
Wolff said the advanced technology of the current power units might not mean much to a drinks company like Red Bull, but is vital for a car manufacturer like Mercedes.
"The current format of power units was actually being proposed by Renault back then and for us, as Mercedes, it's a hugely important showcase of technology, road-relevant technology, hybrid technology, the future. It helps us to attract sponsorship and for us, as a car manufacturer - and I guess the same was the case for Renault when they came up with the idea - that is very important. It's less important for Red Bull, for sure, but for us it's crucial."
Wolff believes Horner is using the cost argument as leverage to make changes and that new regulations - even if they simplified the power units - would actually increase costs.
"We are all talking about costs and if you would open up the regulations in the way it has been described in that press conference [by Horner], that clearly means you don't care about costs because that would be like digging a grave for Formula One," Wolff said. "We have spent considerable amounts in the development of the power unit, far away from the billion [suggested by
"Horner across all three manufacturers], I would say it's ten percent of that in our case. But anyhow, I think we need to be sensible and we need to come up with solutions which enable the small teams to survive and which still enable the big teams to showcase the technology. Reversing everything, changing the format, changing the engines would just increase costs, it would be the opposite for what we need for Formula One at the current stage."
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