This is set to be one of the major topics of the coming weeks: Honda, following Ferrari’s lead, have also asked the FIA for clarification regarding the new Formula 1 power units. Once again, the focus is on the compression ratio, which Mercedes and Red Bull are said to have pushed to 18:1. The Japanese manufacturer’s top management are not pointing fingers at their rivals, but they have clearly stated their position: the International Automobile Federation must define what is legal and what is not.
These are intense weeks in Formula 1 as the first Barcelona tests draw closer. From 26 to 30 January, the teams will take to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for five days of on-track running. Each team will be allowed to use three of those days, with the aim of gathering the first data on the new generation of cars. There is plenty of curiosity about the on-track performance figures, which are expected to remain somewhat unclear, but above all about the new power units.
The engines will be the main focus for all teams. Particular attention will be placed on the Mercedes and Red Bull units, which are rumored to have exploited grey areas in the technical regulations. Ferrari have already asked the FIA for explanations regarding the compression ratio, which for this year is limited to 16:1. Now, following Honda’s presentation event in Tokyo, the Japanese manufacturer have also aligned themselves with the Scuderia.
Honda: “We would like to discuss our ideas with the FIA”
“This is the first year of the new regulations, and this is when their interpretation and related development really begin,” explained Koji Watanabe. “There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. What I can say is that we want to respect the technical regulations, but they are not perfectly clear. We need to understand what possibilities are actually available to us.”
“There is a lot of room for interpretation, and that is part of racing,” he added. “It is up to the FIA to decide what is right and what is wrong. We have many ideas that we would like to discuss with the Federation in order to understand whether they are legal or not. This is how we will proceed: we will always ask the FIA for their opinion.”
As the 2026 season draws closer, the tension between the sport’s major manufacturers is palpable. With Honda and Ferrari standing on one side of the technical divide and Mercedes and Red Bull on the other, the FIA finds itself under immense pressure to issue a definitive ruling. If a loophole truly exists that allows for an 18:1 compression ratio, it could create a performance gap that defines the early years of this new era. For Honda, ensuring a level playing field is not just about fairness—it is about protecting the massive investment they have made in their return to the pinnacle of motorsport alongside Aston Martin.
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