The gray areas of the FIA regulation that Mercedes and Red Bull may have exploited for the 2026 power unit
The new Formula 1 season has already sparked several controversies regarding engine development. In recent days, discussions have focused mainly on the potential solutions allegedly found by Mercedes and Red Bull to extract additional power. According to reports, the two manufacturers may have bypassed the FIA regulations during the design of the 2026 power unit.
As reported by Motorsport Magazin.com, Ferrari, Honda, and Audi have raised concerns about their two rival manufacturers regarding the exploitation of a gray area within the technical regulations for next year. The FIA is closely monitoring the situation and, according to L’Equipe, a meeting between all engine manufacturers could take place tomorrow to reach a definitive decision.
What the technical regulation states
The main topic of discussion appears to be the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine. This refers to the ratio between the maximum cylinder volume and the volume of the combustion chamber after the compression phase. This is a fundamental aspect, because the higher this ratio, the greater the engine’s efficiency. Estimates suggest that Mercedes and Red Bull could gain up to 15 horsepower with the same fuel consumption. It is worth remembering that fuels will play a key role in the new era of single-seaters, and this solution would represent a significant advantage in that regard.
The FIA technical regulations specify that the geometric compression ratio must be set at 16:1, lower than the 18:1 ratio used up to now. However, in Article C5.4.3, the Federation also points out that the procedure for measuring this value is carried out at ambient temperature. Furthermore, this operation must be approved by the FIA itself and included in the homologation dossiers issued by power unit manufacturers.
According to what has been reported, the two teams may have used materials that expand with heat and, thanks to the high operating temperatures, are able to increase the compression ratio. This advantage ensures greater efficiency and power during operation. At the same time, during checks carried out at ambient temperature, the parameters imposed by the Federation would still be respected.
The dilemma over legality
Still within the framework of the FIA technical regulations, there is another issue that needs clarification regarding the 2026 power units. Article C1.5 states that “Formula 1 cars must comply with these regulations in their entirety at all times during a Competition.”
This could undermine the gray area allegedly found by Mercedes and Red Bull, because when the engine is running, the 16:1 ratio would no longer be respected. In any case, rival teams have requested clarity on the matter, but the 2026 season is now approaching rapidly. The engines have already been fully designed, and Mercedes has even revealed the sound of its power unit.
Nikolas Tombazis’ statements
The FIA’s Single-Seater Technical Director made comments back in September that now appear perfectly aligned with the current situation: “We have made it clear to the teams that we will have zero tolerance for anyone exploiting loopholes in the regulations without informing us,” he stated. The Federation was also determined not to listen to those who attempted to bypass the directives without first asking for clarification.
If this were to be the case, with Mercedes and Red Bull having acted without consulting the FIA, it will be interesting to see which direction is ultimately taken. Tombazis also added that exploiting a rule that could be considered 50 percent ambiguous would represent “a suicide for that team.”
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