F1 drivers laugh off Wolff’s 400 km/h speed claim in 2026

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has stirred the pot by suggesting Formula 1’s next-generation cars could push the limits of speed to a staggering 400 km/h. But not everyone in the paddock is buying into the hype.

Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Pierre Gasl, who are both set to run Mercedes power units from 2026, have poured cold water on the claim, insisting their own simulator experience is telling a very different story.

The 2026 season will see a big shift for Formula 1, with revamped technical regulations splitting power equally between internal combustion and electric sources.

While the V6 hybrid engines will stay, the focus on battery energy conservation is expected to slow lap times, forcing drivers to manage power on a lap-by-lap basis.

Despite this, Wolff, quoted by Auto Motor und Sport, raised eyebrows by suggesting the new cars could “scratch the 400 km/h limit” when pushed to their max.

Sainz: “Anywhere not close to 400 km/h”

Sainz, who will head next year into his second season in Williams colours with a Mercedes engine, met Wolff’s bold prediction with a mix of humour and skepticism.

“I wish if that’s the case,” he joked to media on Thursday at Zandvoort. “The HPP [Mercedes High Performance Powertrains] must be doing a good job, but I didn’t hit [400 km/h].”

The Spaniard revealed that during early runs in Williams’ simulator, the cars were a long way off Wolff’s claimed benchmark.

“Anywhere not close to 400 km/h in the simulator, so I don’t know where that comes from,” he added.

Gasly: “I don’t believe stories, I only believe what I see”

Gasly, who will also enjoy Mercedes power when Alpine becomes a customer team in 2026, echoed Sainz’s doubts.

“I don’t believe stories, I only believe what I see,” he said. “I’m sure we can even go 400 with those cars if you change the gearbox and increase the straights. Take off the first chicane in Monza?” he quipped.

The Frenchman stressed that his own simulator sessions backed Sainz’s perspective.

“I don’t know, I’ve tried the car in the simulator and I know what it does,” Gasly added. “I’m not too sure where that comes from, to be honest.

“We’ll see next year. I’m happy if my car goes 400 km per hour, that’s for sure.”

While Wolff’s claim of “scratching 400 km/h” has set tongues wagging, drivers with first-hand experience in simulators appear unconvinced.

For now, the prospect of an F1 car hitting airplane-like speeds remains more fantasy than fact. But if Wolff’s bold prediction somehow proves true, Sainz and Gasly might just be the first to crack a smile on the straights.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.