Toto Wolff has reminded the FIA that it needs to "protect the integrity" of F1 through the looming ADUO engine changes.
The Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities mechanism will kick in over the coming weeks, with the FIA currently evaluating the engine performance of each of the five manufacturers, with those behind the PU deemed the benchmark to be offered upgrade opportunities.
For those found to be up to 2% behind the leading unit - currently Mercedes HPP, which has three poles and three wins from the opening three races, one additional upgrade will be allowed, whilst those at 4% behind will be granted two.
With performance-related upgrades otherwise banned under the engine homologation rules, the leading manufacturer will not be allowed to touch their engine, with Mercedes boss Wolff keen for the FIA not to overstep and create ADUO as a "leapfrog mechanism."
"I wouldn't call it worried," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365, when asked if he was concerned about Mercedes' advantage being wiped out by ADUO.
"I think we are all monitoring how decisions are being made, and we have precise data from our own analytics of where we see engine performance of our competitors and ourselves.
"In that respect, the FIA is looking at the same data, and the FIA certainly, I would very much hope, continue to see themselves as protecting the integrity of the sport.
"Because you don't want to allow ADUO to a team which suddenly leapfrogs someone.
"ADUO was always meant as a catch-up mechanism, and not as a leapfrog mechanism."
Originally published by RacingNews365 —
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