More astonishing developments are emerging in the case surrounding the Mercedes engine set to debut in 2026: according to some reports, the governing body was fully aware of the situation. The debate continues over the extraordinary case involving the power unit Mercedes has designed for the 2026 season, the first of Formula 1’s new regulatory era. According to what has been reported by The Race, it appears that the FIA was informed of everything and now, just over a month before the first tests, can no longer take action.
It is worth recalling that the main subject of discussion concerns the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine. The geometric ratio between the maximum cylinder volume and the combustion chamber volume must be 16:1. The Federation also specifies that the procedure used to measure this value is carried out at ambient temperature. That said, 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 once the engine is running.
FIA-Mercedes: parties in constant dialogue
The Brixworth-based team remained in constant dialogue with the FIA throughout every phase of the development of the new engine that will debut in 2026. As a result, Mercedes appears to have consistently sought and received reassurance regarding the legality of its system directly from those responsible for drafting the technical regulations.
The FIA reportedly confirmed that as long as the engine complies with the 16:1 limit during checks conducted at ambient temperature, what happens on track as a result of heat is not considered relevant. However, there is another section of the regulations that could be used as a counterargument by Ferrari, Honda, and Audi: Article C1.5, which requires “compliance at all times”.
The FIA is stuck
What can the FIA do now? Absolutely nothing. Modifying the technical regulations less than a month before the on-track debut would be impossible. Doing nothing, on the other hand, would theoretically guarantee Mercedes-powered teams an advantage of around three to four tenths of a second per lap over their rivals.
If Mercedes has indeed collaborated with the FIA throughout the rule-defining process—and there is currently no evidence to suggest they attempted to hide their intentions—then they have followed the correct procedures. Having received official green lights along the way, the Silver Arrows are within their rights to continue their design work without interruption, even as the rest of the paddock looks on with growing concern.
Leave a Reply