If the Mercedes rumors are true, Formula 1 could be heading for disaster
During the opening European stretch of the 2026 Formula 1 season, from the Monaco Grand Prix through to Silverstone, a series of rumors emerged regarding the true performance levels of the current generation of Formula 1 power units.
Much of the discussion has focused on the now well-known ADUO report. Although the FIA has yet to publish the official figures, it is widely believed that Red Bull currently has the strongest internal combustion engine (ICE). Mercedes is reportedly second, with a deficit of just over 2%, while Ferrari is said to rank third, trailing by more than 4%.
From the moment this picture began to emerge, a number of theories started circulating, despite never being confirmed either by the teams or by the FIA. One of the most persistent claims suggested that both Mercedes and Ferrari had been running detuned internal combustion engines in order to maximize the benefits provided by the ADUO system. While those rumors have since been partially denied, they have certainly not disappeared.
The threat of a disguised repeat of the 2014 era
It was only during the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone that fresh, unofficial reports added another layer to the story. According to these latest rumors, Mercedes has allegedly been operating its internal combustion engine at only around 70% of its full potential. The strategy would serve two purposes: maximizing the advantages linked to the ADUO system while also protecting the power unit from the reliability issues that have become an increasing concern.
Those reliability worries have reportedly affected not only Mercedes works drivers Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, but also competitors running Mercedes customer power units.
We sincerely hope these rumors are inaccurate, because if they were true, the implications for Formula 1 would be extremely worrying. The sport could find itself facing another scenario similar to the dominance witnessed in 2014, and contrary to Toto Wolff’s recent claims, the ADUO system alone would not be enough to prevent Mercedes from establishing another era of superiority.
Mercedes may be holding back, but 70% would be an alarming margin
The fact that Andrea Kimi Antonelli has consistently produced outstanding lap times, even during free practice sessions, certainly suggests that Mercedes may not yet be extracting everything from its power unit. However, there is a significant difference between deliberately holding back by around 5 to 10% and operating at only 70% of the engine’s true capability.
If Mercedes has genuinely been competing while using only around 70% of its available performance, then the challenge facing its rivals would be enormous. In that scenario, it would become incredibly difficult for Ferrari, Red Bull and the rest of the field to close the gap, at least in the short term, potentially creating another period of sustained dominance in Formula 1.
