Wolff suggests axe for customer team: not a warning, but a call to action

Mercedes is one of the most established power unit manufacturers in Formula 1 after first joining the competition during the mid-90s, and many believe that entering the next Formula 1 regulation change, they will once again have the best engine in the business.

On the Beyond the Grid podcast, Austrian CEO and team boss Wolff addressed being an engine supplier. He said: "Our current mindset is, also discussing with Ola Källenius, that we will reduce the amount of teams we’re going to supply in the next cycle."

Currently, Mercedes supplies three teams: constructors' champions McLaren, Williams, and Alpine. The French team becomes a customer entering 2026, replacing Aston Martin. The Silverstone-based squad switches to Honda.

McLaren, Williams, or Alpine, according to Wolff, could end up being axed. Currently, all three teams also have deals running until 2030, so this change will not come before the aforementioned next cycle.

At the moment, Formula 1 is on the rise, with two suppliers already joining during the upcoming regulations. Audi will begin already in 2026, while the 11th team on the grid, Cadillac, will start with its in-house power units in 2029. That means by that season, there would be six manufacturers in the competition.

If Mercedes lets go of one of the three teams, there is an opportunity for a completely new manufacturer to fill that vacant slot and enter the competition. Instead of a warning, this is also a call to action for other companies around the world looking to enter Formula 1, that is all the rage at the moment.

This means that a new supplier would also be able to start preparing for 2030 as soon as possible, ensuring the deadline can be met. By teaming up with an existing team, the issue of making the pie smaller in terms of revenue would therefore not arise either.

Making F1 more diverse and having more investment in the competition would be positive for all involved.

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