Wolff pressures Ferrari and Alpine: "If a freeze is necessary, we will support it"

The discussion about the possible freeze on engine development in Formula 1 divides the grid. Red Bull Racing is in favour, so they can continue with Honda as their supplier in 2022. Alpine F1 and Ferrari are opposed. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is stepping up the pressure by indicating that he will not stand in the way of Red Bull's plans.

Red Bull's plan is to take over Honda's engine project. In fact, the Japanese manufacturer will stop from 2022 onwards. To give Red Bull's plan the greatest chance of success, the team is asking for a freeze on engine development.

The idea met with resistance mainly from Ferrari and former Renault. Now that Wolff has indicated he has no problem with Red Bull's proposal, tension is mounting. Speaking to German RTL, Wolff said, "If the freeze is necessary to keep Red Bull Honda in business, we will support it."

The team boss continued: "We all have to try together to keep the manufacturers in Formula 1. The Red Bull Honda project is very ambitious, but I think they can do that. That is why we are basically in favor of a freeze,"

The last word on this seems far from being said. It is now up to the opponents of the plan to come up with a counterargument following Wolff's statements. It was intended that a final verdict on the plan would have been reached as early as last week.

To Motorsport-Magazin, Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko was not happy about that: "Friday we agreed with each other, Monday suddenly we don't."