Mercedes boss Toto Wolff worried that the 2026 F1 regulations cars almost 10 seconds slower than the current generation

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff shared his concern about the upcoming challengers from the 2026 F1 regulations. Wolff is worried that the cars under new regulations could be ten seconds slower than the ones used in F1 today.

Formula 1 is set to undergo massive changes in 2026 when new regulations come into existence. As per reports, the cars under this regulation will be lighter and have redesigned power units with more focus on battery power.

With only one and a half seasons to go, teams began to run simulations using the new car, and the results were far from impressive. Toto Wolff, citing such simulations, stated that F1 could become "much too slow" under the new regulations.

"What we need are cars that have as little drag as possible on the straights, but still have enough downforce to be fast in the corners,” Wolff said to ORF. "What we have now is much too slow. Sometimes we have lap times that are ten seconds slower than today."

Putting forward a suggestion, Wolff added:

"Perhaps there could have been a little less battery and a little more combustion engine. After all, we will already be running entirely on sustainable fuel. That fuel is 100 percent sustainable, so we could certainly have made some adjustments. But anyway, it’s too late for that now.”

However, the Austrian boss stated that the slow speed would not make any difference for the television viewers. With this statement, Toto Wolff had to eat his own words after he slammed Christian Horner earlier on the same issue.

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Toto Wolff and Christian Horner share similar views on 2026 regulations issue

Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talks with Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff in the Paddock. Courtesy: Getty Images

Back in 2023, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner shared his concerns about the 2026 regulations cars. He revealed that the FIA formed a regulation that will require a form of compensation in racing, and eventually affect the performances.

"Before it’s too late, is to look at the ratio between combustion power and electrical power to ensure that we’re not creating a technical Frankenstein which will require the chassis to compensate to such a degree with movable aero and to reduce the drag to such a level that the racing will be affected," Horner said to Autosport.

Teams and manufacturers have already reached the penultimate stage with the chassis, power units, and more.

Going by the Paddock chatters, Mercedes is expected to be strongest again under the 2026 regulations. Interestingly, the new regulations will also see the debut of Red Bull Powertrains, and welcome Audi, as a team as well as a manufacturer into the sport.