Wolff: F1 must 'do everything' to bring forward new engine

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff says Formula 1 should "do everything" to bring forward to 2025 the introduction of the sport's next generation engine.

F1's chiefs and the manufacturers are in the process of defining Grand Prix racing's future engine platform that is set to be introduced in 2026.

However, Wolff says there's a case to be made for an early introduction, while the Austrian reiterated his support for an engine development freeze from 2022 until the end of the current power unit's life cycle.

"We haven't got the regulations yet for the power unit in 2026, but I think we all realise what is happening in the world," Wolff said.

"We ought to do everything to bring forward to 2025, and all power unit manufacturers have agreed to this objective.

"I think [2025] would be still feasible. The question is really do you want to have regulations so early and we have the parallel development with the current power unit and a new one?

"That's why the freeze needs to come."

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Ferrari's Mattia Binotto supports the idea of hastening F1's future engine regulations and implementing a development freeze.

But the Scuderia boss and Wolff are at odds over the reliance on a convergence system - which Wolff equates to a potentially disastrous balance of performance scheme - to level the power unit playing field.

"I think it's important for F1 to move forward the 2026 to 2025 for engine and power unit regulations," Binotto said.

"We need to somehow to follow the trends of the automotive [industry], and make sure that as F1, we are a platform of innovation.

"By doing that, we may eventually anticipate the freezing to 2022. It was 2023, and obviously you move everything forward by one year.

"As we discussed, should we consider a performance convergence, which is not a balance or performance, it is releasing that performance convergence and making sure that if there is any manufacturer which is really down in power or performance, try to help him.

"I think again, we should consider it," insisted the Swiss. "I think it's better to just consider it now, try to think in advance instead of simply waiting the situation and then having crazy discussion at the time.

"Freezing would be very responsible, simply to consider such a scenario and make sure we are prepared for it."

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