New FIA engine checks won’t stop Mercedes advantage – paddock view. Mercedes is expected to retain its engine advantage despite new FIA compression ratio checks.

Mercedes engine advantage set to remain despite new FIA checks

Formula 1 teams believe that Mercedes will not lose its engine advantage even after the introduction of new FIA controls. The power unit developed in Brixworth has been a key factor behind the team’s strong start to the 2026 season, and despite regulatory changes expected from June 1, the general feeling in the paddock is that Mercedes will continue to hold the upper hand in terms of engine performance.

Under the new regulations, the compression ratio has been reduced from 18:1 to 16:1. However, the German manufacturer appears to have exploited a grey area, slightly increasing this value by working around checks that are carried out at significantly lower temperatures than those reached during actual power unit operation.

Following the Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA is expected to introduce static measurements at 130°C. Despite this, Mercedes’ rivals are not convinced that these changes will significantly alter the competitive landscape.

Mercedes unlikely to be affected by new measurement systems

The new engine checks were introduced by the FIA after protests regarding the solution developed by Mercedes. Nevertheless, speaking to AutoRacer, Matteo Bobbi revealed that several rival teams have indicated they do not expect the W17 to lose its straight-line advantage.

Red Bull, according to Laurent Mekies’ view, anticipates a loss of no more than 3 to 4 horsepower for the Brackley-based team. In the same discussion, Audi also suggested that the new systems are unlikely to change anything for Mercedes: “The engine in June will perform exactly as it does now.”

“These are the competitors. They don’t say it on television, where they would have every reason to do so, but off-camera. Mattia Binotto told me: who has been winning since 2014? Mercedes, because they are better than the others.” This perspective emerged from conversations with multiple teams within the paddock. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has also indicated that the key method to close the power gap will be through the ADUO, rather than relying on the new checks to level the playing field.

Doubts over FIA measurement methods

Another important aspect concerns the method the FIA will use to carry out these power unit checks. Matteo Bobbi raised further concerns: “Speaking with the FIA, they confirmed that conducting a static test at 130°C will be impossible,” he explained.

“When you begin dismantling the engine, the temperature immediately drops, which makes it impossible to measure at a real 130°C. There is even talk of dismantling the engine into components and placing them in an oven to then evaluate the expansion of each individual part.”