Mercedes ‘onboard’ with dropped standard F1 gearbox plans
Mercedes is “onboard” with🔯 the FIA’s decision to abandon plans to introduce standardised gearboxes in Formul🌊a 1, according to Toto Wolff.
Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, the FIA confirmed it had backtracked on the proposed move, which aligns with the planne🌳d revision of the F1 technical regulations from post-2020, which is set to see a number of parts standardised in a bid to control costs and help create fairer competition among teams.

Mercedes is “onboard” with the FIA’s decision to abandon plans to introduce standardised gearboxes in Formula 1, accor🐠ding to Toto Wolff.
Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, the FIA confirmed it had backtracked on theꦐ proposed move, which aligns with the planned revision of the F1 technical regulations from post-2020, which is set to see a number of parts standardised in a bid to control costs and✃ help create fairer competition among teams.
Wolff insisted Mercedes is “open-minded” about saving money on non-performance components but felt the c💞omplexities of the gearbox tender would have only increased both costs and reliability concerns.
“I think in non-performance parts, where we can really save a lot of money, we should aim for that,” Wol꧙ff said.
“If there is no saving, just complexity, and risk of reliability and failure, then we shouldn’t be following thos🦹e rules. So from that principle, I am onboar﷽d.
“You have to question whether somebody else is in🌞-between an independent supplier, that company would need to make a margin, produce a product cheaper than us with the same specifications and that sounds a little bit of tricky.
“From a Mercedes standpoint we are open-minded to reduce costs and if there is a po💖ssibility for certain non-performance parts, we are for it.”
New McLaren team principal ♚Andreas Seidl believes the scrapped plans will have little impact on his team, which currentꦚly produces its own gearboxes.
“We’re 🌞doing o𝓀ur own gearbox at the moment, so it’s not a big change for us if the gearbox stays on,” Seidl said.
“I think with the budget cap coming, in the end we hav𝓀e somehow available all the same amount of resources, and it’s simply about who is doing the best job within the resources that are available.
“I think that is a challenge for them, what the outcome is in terms of the regulations. I think it’s good if the budget cap comes, because it will definitely help to have a more level playing field between🧔 all of us.
“I see it quite pragmatic in terms of regulations. Formula 1 together with the FIA, they are in c🎉harge. Formula 1 is running Formula 1, with all these experienced people they have like Ross to make sure we get tဣhe right regulations in place for 2021.
“I think it’s good ♌they’re consulted all of us different teams in terms of giving feedback, and asking how we see things. But it’s also clear we have a different agenda. In the end they have to make the call on what the regulations look like.
“I’m quite conf꧃ident whenever the regulations will be announced, it will be good for us, for the sport, for the commercial sid🐎e as well, and then it’s down to us to make the best job out of it.”
McLaren technical director 🅺James Key added: “I think what the FIA are trying to do is a good thꦜing. Ultimately it’s about trying to remove some of the components that we build ourselves and don’t make much difference performance-wise, but it’s a lot of money.
“What they’ve been proposing is very sensible, but clearly we haꦡve to rely on them and trust their judgement and the tender process as well is very much in their ballpark.
“I think we’ll just accept the regulations as they are, a♑nd assume that good reas🎃ons were given for adopting some ideas.”

Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for ltxcn.top around the world. Often reporting on the🎃 action from the ground, Lewis tells th꧂e stories of the people who matter in the sport.