Mercedes may be powering a large chunk of the Formula 1 grid right now, but Toto Wolff has made it clear that this era of abundance won’t last forever.
The Mercedes team principal has openly warned the manufacturer’s three customer teams - McLaren, Williams and Alpine - that a reduction in supply is firmly on the horizon.
Since 2021, Mercedes has been one of the sport’s most generous engine suppliers, running its own works team alongside three customers and accounting for nearly half the grid.
Aston Martin’s departure at the end of this season to partner Honda briefly trimmed that number, but Alpine’s switch from Renault power means Mercedes will again be supplying three teams next year.
Looking further ahead, though, Wolff has signalled a shift in strategy.
Four Is a Crowd
Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Wolff revealed that internal discussions are already underway at the highest level of Mercedes management about scaling back.
“Our current mindset is, also discussing with Ola, that we will reduce the amount of teams we’re going to supply in the next cycle,” Wolff said, referring to Mercedes chairman Ola Källenius.
While he stopped short of naming which teams could be affected, Wolff outlined what he believes is the sweet spot for an engine supplier.
“The optimum number of teams to power is between two and three, I guess.”
The decision, Wolff explained, will depend heavily on how complex future regulations become and what Mercedes can realistically gain from supplying multiple outfits.
“It depends on new regulations going forward,” Wolff added. “Are they rather simple or not? What is it we believe we can learn by supplying more [teams] whilst at the same time needing to lock in some designs earlier?”
Lessons from Honda and the Cost of Scale
Wolff pointed to Honda’s upcoming works-only arrangement with Aston Martin as a telling comparison. From 2026, the Japanese manufacturer will focus solely on one team – a luxury Mercedes does not currently enjoy.
“If you’re Honda on your own [it will be] four or five,” Wolff said, referring to the number of power units required. “So that means longer lead times, more comfortable production cycles.
“So [considering] all of that, going forward, it’s not going to be four anymore.”
By contrast, Mercedes will be responsible for producing 16 power units across its teams — a logistical and developmental challenge that becomes even more demanding as new regulations loom.
For now, McLaren, Williams and Alpine can breathe easy. All three squads are locked into Mercedes power unit contracts for the next five seasons, or until the end of 2030, ensuring stability through the imminent regulation reset.
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Wolff plays down 2026 hype: ‘Rumor mills are always dangerous'Mercedes, too, enters the new era carrying the tag of early powertrain favourite — meaning its four teams will be under intense scrutiny when the season begins in Melbourne in March.
But Wolff’s message was unmistakable: the long-term landscape is changing. As Formula 1 grows ever more complex and competitive, Mercedes appears ready to trade breadth for focus.
For its customers, the warning has been issued well in advance. Who ultimately keeps a Mercedes engine beyond the next cycle may prove to be just as strategic – and political – as anything happening on track.
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