Toto Wolff explains F1 2026 car 400km/h claim that raised eyebrows

Toto Wolff has doubled down on his declare that F1’s new technology of vehicles may theoretically attain 400km/h on the straights in 2026.

The Mercedes boss raised eyebrows when he initially made the daring declare in an interview with German publication Auto Motor Und Sport over the summer season break.

The best velocity recorded at a contemporary F1 occasion was when Valtteri Bottas hit 378km/h (234.9mph) in qualifying throughout the 2016 European Grand Prix at Baku.

F1’s new vehicles for 2026 are set to have a rise in electrical power accessible because of the looming regulation overhaul.

Wolff has moved to clarify his feedback and insisted the highest velocity might be achieved, however provided that all accessible energy was deployed in a single go.

“Properly, I felt like we have to give that engine a little bit little bit of a advertising increase, as a result of folks have been speaking it down and it is such a tremendous piece of package,” Wolff informed the Past The Grid podcast.

“When you put all of it collectively, we may do 400km/h or perhaps even exceed it, however clearly you are going to run out of power for the following straight after which not be fast sufficient.”

Mercedes Excessive Efficiency Powertrains managing director Hywel Thomas, who joined Wolff as a visitor on the podcast, added: “I believe the start-of-straight efficiency goes to be very, similar to right this moment.

“We’ve bought the turbocharger that hasn’t bought an electrical machine on it anymore, so you may get some turbo lag. We’ll be filling in that turbo lag with the electrical, doubtlessly.

“So, I believe when it comes to start-straight, the efficiency goes to be fairly epic compared to what we have right this moment. However we all know we’ll begin to derate earlier on the straight as a result of we have not bought sufficient electrical power to make use of it on a regular basis.”

F1 2026 is likely one of the most eagerly-anticipated season within the sport’s 75-year historical past, with the largest ever guidelines change set to shake-up the aggressive order.

F1 revealed its simplified terminology for key 2026 rule components on Wednesday, together with the newly-named Overtake Mode, Enhance Mode, Energetic Aero and Recharge.