Toto Wolff says Mercedes' F1 rivals questioning new engine legality need to get own houses in order ahead of 2026 F1 season

Toto Wolff has criticised rivals for pointing the finger at the legality of Mercedes' new engine, telling them to instead "just get your s*** together" ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Reports ahead of the new campaign, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, claimed Ferrari, Honda and Audi fear that Mercedes, the pre-season title favourites, and Red Bull, who have produced their own power unit for the first time, may have established a performance advantage through a so-called 'loophole' in the regulations.

The row centres on compression ratio limits amid suggestions from rivals that the two manufacturers may have found a way to deliver a higher limit than what was theoretically imposed by the brand new regulations for 2026.

• Five takeaways from F1 testing in Barcelona
• Promise for Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton with new-style F1 cars?
• F1 2026: Testing, calendar, line-ups, new regulations and more
• Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract
• Download Sky Sports app for news, expert analysis and video

The compression ratio limit has been lowered from 18.0 under the previous ruleset to 16.0, but measurements are only taken when the engine is not running at full temperature.

But with Mercedes confident their engine is legal and complies with the FIA technical regulations, Wolff took aim at rivals' complaints and conduct around the matter.

The Mercedes team principal said: "I just don't understand that some teams concentrate more on the others and keep arguing a case that is very clear and transparent, communication with the FIA was very positive all along.

"It's not only on compression ratio, but on other things too.

"Specifically in that area, it's very clear what the regulations say. It's very clear what the standard procedures are on any motors, even outside of Formula 1.

"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."

'Maybe you want to find excuses before you even started'

Wolff said Mercedes, whose new car completed a test-high 500 laps in its debut week of running at the Barcelona shakedown, were simply focusing on themselves.

"I feel like I can just say at least from us here, we are trying to minimise distractions and minimising distractions is looking more at us than at everybody else, when it's pretty clear what the regs say and also pretty clear what the FIA has said to us and has said to them so far," added Wolff.

"But we're all different. Maybe you want to find excuses before you even started, why things are not good. So everybody needs to do it to the best of their ability.

"But that is really not how we would do things, especially not after you've been told a few times that that is fine.

"It's legal and it's what the regulations say. But again, if somebody wants to entertain themselves by distraction, then everybody is free to do this."

With Mercedes also comfortable with their position based on conversations with the FIA, Wolff added: "The power unit is legal. The power unit corresponds to how the regulations are written. The power unit corresponds to how the checks are being done.

"The power unit corresponds to how these things are measured in any other vehicle. And everything else I can't judge upon. But that's how we see the world today.

"That's what the FIA said. That's what the president of the FIA said. He knows a bit about that. And in that respect, let's wait and see, but we feel robust."

When is F1 Bahrain pre-season testing?

The introduction of new regulations means there is a robust schedule of three separate testing events before the start of the 2026 season.

With the closed Barcelona Shakedown now complete, F1 will next head to Bahrain for two 'official' pre-season tests, when media will be present and live timing from the circuit available.

Two three-day Bahrain tests take place on February 11-13 and 18-20.

When is the first F1 race?

The teams then have two weeks to prepare for the opening round of the season, which is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6-8.

The first practice sessions of the season will take place on Friday March 6, with Qualifying on Saturday March 7 and the opening race on Sunday March 8.

Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Toto Wolff says Mercedes' F1 rivals questioning new engine legality need to get own houses in order ahead of 2026 F1 season