Formula 1 is at a crossroads. Never in its entire history has the sport been more popular than it is now, and it is agreed that F1 is without a doubt the pinnacle of motorsport. There is still room for growth, however, and this is where new engine manufacturers come into play who could enter the sport either as factory equipment or as an engine supplier.
Against this background, the F1 bosses and the FIA are still discussing a new engine regulation that is to come into force from 2026. Such regulations could lead to the complicated and expensive MGU-H system being abandoned, otherwise it could act as a deterrent for newcomers. However, there are those who prefer to fight potential newcomers a bit at the start to earn their wings, according to Autosport.
“None of these large car companies want to get into a situation in which they are very uncompetitive, and therefore we have to have systems that reduce these very large risks,” said Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff.
“But on the other hand, F1 is the Champions League, and nobody can expect to get into the Champions League for the first time and go straight to the final and go home with the big trophy. We’ve been around for a long time, investing a lot of money, sweat and blood and terrible results to get us to where we are. “
He goes on to point out how Mercedes struggled for three years after returning as a factory team, just as Honda and Renault have struggled lately.
The Mercedes boss also believes teams like Toyota, Honda and BMW have failed in the past despite big budgets because they haven’t given their F1 projects enough time.
“I think everyone realizes that you can’t just come and win, but that you need time,” explains Wolff. “And many OEMs simply misunderstood that in the past.”
At the moment, the VW group is considered the racing favorite when it comes to making the leap into F1 via its Porsche brand.
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