It all started off with Honda expressing their intention to leave Red Bull after the 2021 season. Ever since then, discussions about engine suppliers have taken place in general, with a recent proposal of freezing engines’ development also discussed by all F1 teams.

Just a few days back, reports suggested that Ferrari would accept going down that route. However, they also have conditions relating to the convergence of engines, which could involve bringing forward the 2026 regulations to 2025.

Mercedes, however, are firmly against this proposed idea. Team principal Toto Wolff even believes that this would be the ‘beginning of the end’ for F1, should it go ahead.

Mercedes boss Wolff believes the power unit is subject to several factors

Wolff stated, “I think this would be the beginning of the end [for Formula One].

“The power unit is not only measured by sheer max power, but it is subject to drivability, to weight, to cooling, so introducing a simple formula that fits all isn’t possible and is not something Mercedes will endorse.”

Ferrari initially had strict defiance against Red Bull’s reported engines’ freeze proposal. Having changed their stance, the Italian giants obviously want some of their own demands met, whilst working with F1 and FIA on the same.

Wolff explained further and said, “When you look at the last three years and the development of the performance of the engines, Ferrari was clearly the most powerful engine in 2018 and by far the best in 2019, and we developed our engine and continued to push the boundaries and brought something to the track in 2020 that we were hoping would catch up.”

Wolff thinks Ferrari would not accept “humiliation in public” over engines’ idea

“That’s why I cannot comprehend that any car manufacturer that trusts in his ability to develop a power unit and a chassis would want some kind of mechanism that would balance the power unit result. I don’t think that anybody would accept such a humiliation in public,” concluded the Mercedes boss.

Discussions relating to F1 engines will certainly continue to carry on. In that regard, the FIA and F1 will have to work closely together with the teams and declare suitable working regulations, ahead of what could be a definite deciding era for the future of the sport.