Toto Wolff has given his and Mercedes' backing to Red Bull's calls for an engine freeze from as early as 2022. Red Bull are currently facing a dilemma over the future of their power unit. Their current supplier Honda are set to withdraw from Formula 1 at the end of 2021, but the team hope to be able to continue to use the engine as their own in the following season. However, this would require the sport to instate a development freeze, something that in principle Wolff is in favour of. "If the freeze is necessary to keep Red Bull Honda in business, we will support that," Wolff told RTL. "We all have to work together to try to keep the manufacturers in Formula 1. Red Bull's Honda project is very ambitious, but I think they can do it. That's why we are basically in favour of a freeze." A vote on the freeze plans by the commission had been expected to take place this week, but this did not occur and Red Bull are now having to wait a little longer for the outcome. It is thought that talks could be held again in two weeks’ time at the earliest. Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko recently voiced his frustrations over the delay and said he believes that other teams are putting off the talks in order to impact the Milton Keynes-based outfit's ability to prepare for 2022. However, it is F1 owners Liberty Media and the FIA who make the decisions on the long-term future of Formula 1 engines. Completely new engine regulations are set to be brought in from 2026, with the aim being to create cheaper and more sustainable power units that can reach the same level of performance. In the meantime, Red Bull await the decision on their engine plans for 2022. If they are unable to continue to use Honda engines, it seems unlikely that Wolff and Mercedes would be willing to offer their units, given that the squad already supply Aston Martin, McLaren and Williams alongside the main team.
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