JANUARY 29, 2026

Ralf tells Ferrari to shut up over Mercedes engine row

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has told Ferrari to keep quiet amid growing speculation that the Italian team is preparing an official protest over a perceived Mercedes engine loophole.

Speaking on Sky Deutschland's Backstage Boxengasse, Schumacher reacted to reports that Ferrari - potentially alongside Honda and Audi - could challenge Mercedes at the season-opening Australian GP over the alleged advantage linked to engine compression.

I think Ferrari, of all the teams, should keep their mouths shut, Schumacher said. I still remember well that in the past, fuel also came from places it shouldn't have come from.

The German was referring to Ferrari's controversial 2019 engine, which rivals suspected of exceeding fuel-flow limits. Although no illegality was proven, the FIA later issued technical directives and reached a confidential settlement with Ferrari.

Schumacher defended Mercedes' approach, describing it as a textbook example of Formula 1's grey areas.

If a rule is written in such a way that there's room for interpretation, and someone is clever enough to exploit that and it holds, then that's also a risk you take, he said. Five FIA engineers are trying to stop 2000 engineers from finding a better idea. That's always been Formula 1.

Rather than criticising Mercedes, Schumacher praised the team's engineers for their boldness.

You put a lot of time and money into something like this, and it can completely backfire, he said. The engineers at Mercedes will have weighed this very carefully. I take my hat off to that - this is Formula 1 - innovation.

Schumacher said the FIA has so far allowed the concept, following discussions with manufacturers, although another meeting is scheduled for early February.

Speculation has also touched on Red Bull, which initially denied using a similar concept but has recruited heavily from Mercedes' power unit department in recent years.

Schumacher added that the situation would be welcomed at Alpine, now running customer Mercedes engines.

At Alpine, they'll be happy, he laughed. "They finally have a motor that works well. They always had a backlog of 30 to 50 horsepower.

I still remember the press conference with Flavio Briatore, in which he said he would step down if he didn't make it to the podium with Alpine this year. Let's see if we have to remind him of that.

As for Ferrari, Schumacher's message to Ferrari was blunt.

Keep your mouth shut and work on, he said. You could have thought of this idea yourself.

(GMM)