Ferrari vs Mercedes: The truth behind the 2026 power unit performance rumors. New details have emerged about the real Mercedes engine advantage.

After the rumors of the past few days, new voices are now emerging about what could be the real advantage of the Mercedes engine for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Four tenths. Until now, this seemed to be the potential advantage in the hands of Mercedes thanks to the specific solution found by the engineers of the Silver Arrows when designing the power unit for 2026. According to the rumors that surfaced in recent weeks, and later confirmed by the official protest lodged by Ferrari, Audi and Honda, the Brackley-based team and Red Bull would have found a way to modify the compression ratio of their power units once certain temperatures are reached. This is an aspect that should not be underestimated, as it would allow the two engine manufacturers to have several more horsepower at their disposal compared to their rivals.

New details emerge on Mercedes’ real advantage

However, according to what was written by Franco Nugnes on motorsport.com, the figures to consider would be quite different. The advantage enjoyed by Mercedes and Red Bull would in fact amount to around thirteen horsepower. And if each additional horsepower is generally valued at approximately twenty thousandths of a second, this would translate into the two aforementioned engines being able to gain around two and a half tenths per lap compared to Ferrari, Audi and Honda. This is therefore significantly less than the four tenths that many have been talking about in recent weeks.

This is something that could bring a smile, among others, to the Tifosi of the Scuderia Ferrari on the eve of a season that represents an opportunity not to be missed for the Maranello-based team.

As the countdown to the new regulatory era continues, the technical battle behind the scenes is becoming just as fierce as the action on the track. With the gap potentially narrower than initially feared, the 2026 season is shaping up to be a high-stakes chess match where reliability and integration will be just as crucial as raw peak power. For fans and teams alike, the quest for every millisecond remains the ultimate priority in the race to dominate the next generation of Formula 1.