Mercedes wants VW in Formula 1 and will compromise to make that happen

Mercedes would agree to simplified engine tuning from 2026 to bring Volkswagen into the Formula 1 field. Mercedes-F1 boss Toto Wolff announced at the weekend that a decisive meeting about new engine regulations had taken place.

Members of F1 management, FIA officials and representatives of existing and potential engine manufacturers, including Volkswagen, took part in the discussion.

The Formula 1 turbo hybrid engine has been in use since 2014. It includes two critical systems, the MGU-H and MGU-K. The proposed simplification includes the elimination of the MGU-H element of the current units. The MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) is what recovers and stores energy to and from the turbocharger. The MGU-K stores kinetic energy when braking and transfers it to the wheels.

As more and more automakers move away from internal combustion engines, the new powertrain is key to keeping Formula 1 relevant.

According to Motorsport, the Mercedes F1 boss said removing the MGU-H was a compromise, but that would be made if it helped bring VW into the sport. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but we at Mercedes are ready to get involved to make it easier for the Volkswagen Group to get involved. But there are a few other issues where compromises have to be found. “

Read: Porsche built an F1 engine before entering Formula E instead

The Volkswagen Group was represented in the power unit discussion with two of its brands – Audi and Porsche. Formula 1 is dedicated to hybrid technology, but a switch to all-electric drives, as most road cars go through, would undeniably change the fabric of the sport. Instead, the series is betting its future on biofuels.

This year’s cars run on 5.75 percent biofuel, with that formulation rising to 10 percent (aka E10) next year. The plan is to switch to a third-generation biofuel, also known as e-fuel, by 2030. Such a step could seduce Porsche, which is known to be experimenting with its own e-fuel racing program.

Porsche has previously expressed interest in entering Formula 1, with the German company even going so far as to build an engine that would have complied with the 2021 regulations. Apparently, the MGU-H was once again a sticking point for the VW group brand, which had hoped that the component would be deleted from the units.

With Honda giving up the sport at the end of 2021, Formula 1 will only have three engine suppliers that make road cars: Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault. Red Bull will be a fourth engine maker to take over Honda’s facilities, but it’s unclear how their technology will translate into a production model.

Renderings by Alessandro Melone and Sean Bull Liveries