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 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 motorsport head Toto Wolff told reporters in Russia last
weekend that his team had already voted against the proposal in a
strategy group meeting and would do so again when the matter goes to
a Formula One commission meeting.
To be incorporated into the 2015 rules, there must be unanimous
agreement.
"I don't think we will change our mind in the next month, whenever
the commission meeting is going to take place," said Wolff, who
added that any relaxation would only increase costs.
He said there was also every chance the performance gap would remain
the same, if not grow larger, with Mercedes also pushing hard to
improve their engine.
Mercedes have won 13 of 16 races so far, with nine one-two finishes.
They will be supplying three teams next year in addition to their
own.
"We were asked to guarantee supply of engines at the same
specification, at the same time for all the customers at the same
price," said Wolff. "And we can't supply them at the same time if we
are having in-season development.
"It's different for Honda, which has one customer only, it's
different to Ferrari and different for Renault again.
"You are spending considerably more and every other argument is just
because they (rival manufacturers) don't think they are where they
should be."
TRUE PERFORMANCE
To emphasize the domination of the Mercedes engine, Germany's Nico
Rosberg went from last to second in Sunday's race at Sochi while the
top five cars were all Mercedes-powered.
"Mercedes' true performance is they can drive through the field, and
I think it's too out of kilter," commented Red Bull principal
Christian Horner.
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"This technology is still quite raw. Mercedes shouldn't be afraid of
competition. They're doing a super job but I think it's healthy for
F1 that Ferrari, Honda and Renault should have the ability to close
that gap, otherwise we'll end up in a very stagnant position."
Williams head of vehicle performance Rob Smedley, whose team uses
Mercedes engines, agreed with Wolff.
"Yes, Mercedes have got the march on the manufacturers. But if we
open up the engine regulations, Mercedes aren't going to sit still,"
he told reporters.
"Mercedes are going to do an awful lot of work and put an awful lot
of investment into this current generation of power unit and come
out with something that is much bigger, better and stronger – as
will Renault, as will Ferrari.
"Nobody will move forward or backward. We'll end up where we are....
and what Formula One doesn't need right at this moment in time is
that everybody incurs a huge amount of cost for no benefit to the
show."
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by...)
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