Mercedes open to F1 engine freeze being lifted

Mercedes has dominated F1 this season, and there have been recent calls from rivals Ferrari and Renault to open up engine regulations to allow performance upgrades.

Currently, the rules prevent changes to engine architecture, unless for special reasons related to reliability, safety or cost.

Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci said after the Belgian Grand Prix that relaxing engine rules would support the innovative "DNA" of F1, while Red Bull supplier Renault said it would support more open engine regulations if they didn't lead to a spending war among manufacturers.

The possibility of relaxing these rules was on the agenda in a meeting of F1's strategy group in the Italian GP paddock on Friday, during which the popularity of F1, rules on superlicences, cost control, and long-term technical changes to F1 cars were also discussed.

Speaking to the press later, Wolff suggested Mercedes might support a lifting of the engine freeze, if it was done in the right way.

"It's about defining what we want to do," he said. "Obviously we have a competitive advantage but we would take the challenge [of competition] on.

"Is it the time to change the rules to change something? Maybe. The discussions we've had so far were pretty open.

"There are various concepts on the table and if we decide to go completely in the opposite direction and open it up completely, this will increase costs quite dramatically.

"I'm not sure we could deliver all the same specification of engines to everybody - logistically it's not feasible - so the devil lies in the detail."

HORNER BACKS RENAULT CALL

Red Bull boss Christian Horner suggested engine development should be allowed in the same way that chassis improvements are permitted for performance reasons.

"Formula 1 is all about innovation and competition but there are only certain junctures that you can introduce new technology and upgrades," Horner said.

"With the chassis, if you start off poorly you can develop your way out of it.

"I think with the engine all we need to consider - without hopefully having a significant effect on costs - is perhaps more freedom to allow manufacturers to develop in order for that competition to be there at the front."