Mercedes breaks ‘gentleman’s agreement’ (2nd Update)

Wolff probably laughing that he outsmarted Ferrari

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. The FIA have cleared Mercedes to run their latest spec engine with a higher level of oil burn moving forward as they introduced it before Monza.

As of the Italian Grand Prix weekend any engine introduced will face a new oil burn limit of 0.9 liters per 100km compared to the previous 1.2 liters.

Mercedes, though, managed to avoid the revised restriction by introducing their latest upgrade at Spa.

“To be clear if an engine (ICE element) is introduced at or after the Monza race weekend, its oil consumption needs to be below 0.9L/100km whenever it is used," said an FIA spokesman.

“If an engine (ICE element) has been introduced at or before the Spa race weekend, its oil consumption needs to be below 1.2L/100km whenever it is used."

The FIA’s clarification means that Mercedes’ customers, Force India and Williams, will be forced to adhere to the 0.9L limit as they will only get the Belgium upgrade later in the season.

Mercedes circumventing the new levels is likely to irk title rivals Ferrari, however, motorsport boss Toto Wolff says he is happy to discuss the matter with the Scuderia if needed.

“We are fierce competitors and the relationship we have is that we stick our heads together if there is a problem, and we discuss it behind closed doors," he told Autosport.

“It hasn’t come up.

“We need to be careful that things are not made up in the public that are just not right, and not true.

“So far, I’m easy about it."

08/28/17 (GMM) Toto Wolff has vowed to keep "behind closed doors" any spat with Ferrari over engine rules.

We reported at the weekend that Ferrari is angry after Mercedes broke a 'gentleman's agreement'.

The saga surrounds the 'oil in fuel' controversy, with Mercedes launching a new engine specification at Spa despite promising it would wait for the debut of harsher rules that will be introduced this weekend at Monza.

"On the track we are fiercely competitive," Mercedes chief Wolff said when asked about the apparent spat.

"But if there are any problems off the track, we discuss them behind closed doors. It's important to be cautious rather than making public anything that could be misinterpreted," he added.

Hamilton tested the hideous Halo again Friday at Spa. Meanwhile did Mercedes lie to Ferrari?

08/26/17 (GMM) A spat has reportedly broken out behind the scenes between title protagonists Mercedes and Ferrari.

Auto Bild reports that Mercedes surprised its Italian rival by launching a new engine specification at Spa Francorchamps.

The controversy surrounds the recent 'oil in fuel' saga, with the FIA having declared that as of the next race at Monza, every engine can only consume a maximum of 0.9 liters.

But Mercedes, Ferrari and the other engine manufacturers had reportedly entered into a 'gentleman's agreement' that any upgrade released before Monza would comply with the new 0.9 liter rule.

However, it emerges that Mercedes' brand new engine at Spa was in fact upgraded according to the existing rules allowing 1.2 liters of oil consumption — therefore breaking the 'gentleman's agreement'.

"Ferrari asked before Spa if any teams were planning new engines, but the answer was no," reported Germany's Sport Bild.

Auto Bild said the FIA has confirmed that Mercedes did not breach any official rule.