Szafnauer Accuses Mercedes of Sandbagging as Cost Cap Shields Its Lead

Otmar Szafnauer, former Red Bull principal, says he’s heard Mercedes may be limiting its 2026 hybrid engine to keep rivals Ferrari below the ADUO token threshold, a tactic the $130 million cost cap could cement.

Why it matters:

The cost cap stops teams from out‑spending Mercedes, so intentional throttling could lock in a hierarchy. ADUO tokens are meant to close gaps; blocking them defeats that goal. Competitive balance matters for fans, sponsors and the sport’s credibility.

The details:

• 2026 power unit – 50/50 combustion‑electric split, first major change since 2016.
• ADUO – trailing >2% gets one token; >4% gets a second for targeted upgrades.
• Cost cap – $130 M annual limit forces teams to prioritise development over spending.
• Mercedes’ dominance – four wins, 135 points, 40 ahead of Ferrari.
• Alleged sandbagging – Szafnauer says Mercedes may be throttling the engine to keep Ferrari within the 2% window, blocking a token.

What's next:

The FIA will keep monitoring performance data and could intervene if throttling is proven. Ferrari and other challengers may demand clearer ADUO transparency. Ongoing imbalance could put the cost‑cap model under scrutiny as a fairness tool.