Even Christian Horner is siding with Toto Wolff as Mercedes are accused of breaking F1 rules

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff angrily hit out at rival F1 teams this week as the dispute over fuel compression ratios continues.

It’s widely believed that Mercedes have found a loophole in the 2026 engine rules allowing them to exceed the maximum ratio of 16:1 on track while still being in compliance during static tests.

“It’s very clear what the regulations say,” Wolff said, via Sky Sports. “So just get your s— together. Just doing secret meetings, sending secret letters and keep trying to invent ways of testing that just don’t exist.

Barcelona shakedown complete ✅ Which team has surprised you the most? 👇

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He later added: “Maybe you want to find excuses before you even started, why things are not good.”

At a meeting before the Barcelona Shakedown, the teams discussed ways to measure fuel compression ratio in real time, thus closing the loophole. However, this is unlikely to be implemented during the 2026 season.

Christian Horner praises Mercedes’ aggression amid fuel compression scandal

In an interview with 9 News Australia, former Red Bull boss Christian Horner was asked about the controversy. Horner was well-versed in such disputes during his 20 years at Milton Keynes, whether he was on the offensive or defensive.

His rivalry with Wolff was bitter, so it was a surprise that he implicitly defended Mercedes. Horner welcomes the aggressive approach taken by their engineers.

There have also been whispers that Red Bull are using the same methods, but perhaps not to the same extent. The trick is estimated to be worth around three-tenths of lap time.

Would you like to see Christian Horner revive his rivalry with Toto Wolff?

Horner could make his F1 comeback with Alpine, who will have Mercedes engines from 2026 to 2030

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Asked if the two manufacturers were ‘cheating’, Horner said: “That’s a big statement! Formula 1’s about pushing the boundaries. It’s about how you interpret regulations. It always has been and it always will be.

“The teams who are the most conservative are the teams who are never at the front of the grid. You’ve got to be pushing the envelope, and of course, it’s all about how you interpret regulations.

“Some of the brightest engineers on the planet will be looking at those regulations and thinking, ‘How I can maximise performance?'”

Christian Horner just showed he’s still a political mastermind

While they have signed vast numbers of engineers from Brixworth, Red Bull strongly deny that they have copied Mercedes.

One theory, shared by Auto Motor und Sport, is that Red Bull haven’t yet worked out how to raise their compression ratio but could do so during the season. That could significantly alter the competitive landscape if the horsepower advantage is as big as expected.

Horner’s answer shows political nous because he’s currently negotiating with Alpine over a potential return to F1. Flavio Briatore has bought a Mercedes engine for 2026.

There have been suggestions that Horner’s poor relationship with Wolff could be a barrier to a move. In this context, questioning the legality of the Mercedes engine would not have been wise.