Mercedes To Oppose Move By Formula One Rivals To Free Up Engine Development

Mercedes plans to block an attempt by F1 rivals "to relax the rules and allow engine development during the course of next season," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. The engine rules "are currently 'frozen' in-season to keep costs down after the introduction of costly new V6 turbo hybrid power units this year." Renault-powered rivals Red Bull, "dethroned by Mercedes" as constructors' champions last weekend, and Ferrari "want the rules relaxed to allow in-season development that might give them a chance to close the gap." Mercedes F1 Exec Dir Toto Wolff said that "his team had already voted against the proposal" and would do so again when the matter goes to an F1 commission meeting. Wolff: "I don't think we will change our mind in the next month, whenever the commission meeting is going to take place" (REUTERS, 10/15).