Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says implementing a balance of performance system in Formula 1 would “ruin” the sport.
Red Bull has dominated the opening stages of the 2023 campaign, winning all six rounds so far.
It already boasts a seismic lead in the Constructors’ Championship, sitting 129 points ahead of second-placed Aston Martin.
In various other racing categories, a balance of performance system is in place to stop one manufacturer or team from dominating the field.
It is used frequently in the World Endurance Championship system as it attempts to maintain parity between different outfits by adjusting measures such as horsepower and weight.
But Wolff says that F1 can’t consider going down a similar route.
“If we start putting in a balance of performance we will ruin this sport,” he said.
“This is a meritocracy, best driver in the best car, spending the same amount of money, win the championship and if you break the rules in either you should be heavily penalised but only then – but not for doing a good job.”
In recent years, Mercedes possessed a dominant car but slipped back in the order when new technical regulations were introduced in 2022.
Amid complaints that the sport is too predictable due to Red Bull’s speed, Wolff says it is the duty of the other F1 teams to close the gap.
“When you win in Formula 1 it is a meritocracy and they [Red Bull] have just done a good job,” he said.
“The car is fast in all conditions, the driver is at the top of his game, even today going off at times but not dnf-ing is a skill. You can see that he pushed, so all credit to them.
“We just need to do a better job, we need to catch up, find intelligent solutions. Hope that our learning slope, development slope is steeper than theirs and eventually fight for this again.
“Because it is a meritocracy it is what it is. It’s sport, whether it is good for the show or not?
“Obviously a strong fight between ten drivers or at least two, is much better for all of us but it is not happening that is why you have to just accept that and work to get back there.”
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