Toto Wolff in foul-mouthed rant at Mercedes F1 fuel issue rumours

Toto Wolff has launched a remarkable foul-mouthed rant in response to several rumours surrounding his Mercedes Formula 1 team.

Mercedes has found itself at the heart of an F1 engine row over the new 2026 regulations that has dominated much of the winter ahead of the upcoming campaign.

As well as being accused of exploiting a loophole regarding the compression ratio limit, stories have emerged that Petronas, Mercedes’ fuel supplier, is in a race against time to achieve homologation for its 2026 fuel.

Wolff was in a combative mood as he quickly batted off the speculation facing Mercedes.

“This is another of these stories,” Wolff said during Thursday’s FIA press conference.

“We were told compression ratio is something that we were illegal [on], which is total bullshit, utter bullshit. Now the next story comes up that our fuel is illegal. I don't know where that comes from and starts spinning again.

“Maybe tomorrow we're inventing something else. I don't know, I’ve been on the Epstein files. God knows what. I mean… you’re not happy with me saying that, no? [Wolff looks over to Mercedes press officer].”

Wolff then continued: “Another nonsense. This is a complicated topic and the process and all of this, but there's just not... I can't even comment.”

Wolff downplays looming F1 engine change vote

F1 bosses have moved toward a rule change that would close a loophole rivals believe Mercedes has exploited in the new engine regulations.

An e-vote of the five power unit manufacturers, along with the FIA and commercial rights holder F1, is set to take place on Friday in order to change the rules.

If the vote passes as expected, from 1 August, the compression ratio will be measured at a “representative operating temperature of 130C” as well as at ambient temperature, which currently is the only condition in which the checks are carried out.

Having last week claimed that any rule change would “screw” Mercedes, Wolff has now changed his tune on the matter.

“For me, the way it works, either we stay with the regulations like we are, or the e-vote goes ahead on Friday with the proposal that came from the FIA. Both are OK for us,” Wolff insisted.

“We said it all along that this looks like a storm in a teacup, the whole thing, and numbers were coming up… if these numbers would have been true, then absolutely understand why somebody would fight it.

“But eventually, it's not worth the fight. It doesn't change anything for us, whether we stay like this or whether we change to the new regulations, and that's been a process. But we also want to be a good citizen in the sport, because it doesn't make a big difference, whether it's changed opinion.

“Philosophically, you can disagree with it, because I believe regs are there to be made and you keep the FIA close to you and that's how it should be. But, if you have four other PUs that are putting immense pressure on the FIA, at a certain stage, what choice do we have than not to play?

“We were pretty comfortable in even having a protest going on Friday in Melbourne, but is this what we want?”