Mercedes\u2019 rivals are targeting a change to the engine compression ratio rules ahead of the opening race of the F1 2026 season in Australia, it has emerged.<\/p>\n
Reports over recent months have claimed that two engine manufacturers, widely named as Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains, have identified a loophole in the new engine regulations related to compression ratio.<\/p>\n
Mercedes rivals pushing for rule change over F1 2026 engine loophole<\/p>\n
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Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n The rules for F1 2026 state that the compression ratio in a cylinder can be no higher than 16.0, a drop from the 18.0 ratio under the previous engine regulations.<\/p>\n With the compression ratio only measured when the engine is not running at full temperature on track, it has been suggested that the manufacturers have found away around the new rules by increasing the compression ratio to 18.0 when running hot.<\/p>\n If true, this could hand the manufacturers at the centre of the claims a major performance advantage in F1 2026.<\/p>\n As reported by PlanetF1.com<\/a>, the FIA held a meeting with \u201ctechnical experts\u201d on January 22 \u2013 four days ahead of the first pre-season test in Barcelona \u2013 after rival manufacturers reportedly aired concerns about the loophole.<\/p>\n Two further meetings have been held this week, with the FIA once again meeting with technical experts on Monday. The Power Unit Advisory Committee (PUAC) then met on Thursday.<\/p>\n It has emerged that Mercedes\u2019 rivals are pushing for a change to the way engine compression ratio is measured in time for next month\u2019s Australian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n A report by The Race<\/a> has claimed that Mercedes\u2019 competitors are aiming to launch a proposal to ensure that compression ratios are measured when hot.<\/p>\n This could be done by either using sensors when the cars are out on track or taking measurements in the garage when engines reach operating trio.<\/p>\n It is said that the three engine manufacturers most upset with the loophole being exploited \u2013 Ferrari, Honda and Audi \u2013 have potentially persuaded Red Bull to join their cause.<\/p>\n Recent reports have indicated that Red Bull Powertrains\u2019 grip on the compression ratio loophole isn\u2019t as firm as that of Mercedes.<\/p>\n As such, it could suit RBPT \u2013 which is working in collaboration with US manufacturer Ford \u2013 to join efforts to close off the loophole.<\/p>\n Red Bull\u2019s outlook on the matter is of particular significance as any significant change to the power unit rules requires the backing of four of the five engine manufacturers, along with the FIA and FOM, according to the governance procedures of the PUAC.<\/p>\n If the four remaining engine manufacturers are aligned in opposition, Mercedes\u2019 hopes of the rules remaining unchanged would then appear to rely on the FIA and FOM.<\/p>\n Speaking to PlanetF1.com and other media outlets this week, Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, insisted that the team had \u201cvery positive\u201d communication with the FIA throughout the development of its F1 2026 engine.<\/p>\n And he called for the manufacturers unhappy with the situation to \u201cget your s**t together\u201d, claiming Mercedes\u2019 competitors are looking for already looking for excuses.<\/p>\n Wolff said:\u00a0\u201cI think we need to have more work done at that stage, as when it comes to the engine question, I just don\u2019t understand that some teams concentrate more on the others and keep arguing a case that is very clear and transparent.<\/p>\n \u201cCommunication with the FIA was very positive all along.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s not only on compression ratio, but on other things too \u2013 and specifically in that area, it\u2019s very clear what the regulation says, very clear what the standard procedures are on any motors, even outside of Formula 1.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, just get your s**t together. Doing secret meetings and sending secret letters, and keep trying to invent ways of testing that just don\u2019t exist is\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I can just say at least from us here, we are trying to minimise distractions, and minimising distractions is looking more at us than everybody else when it\u2019s pretty clear what the what the regs say, and also pretty clear what the FIA has said to us and has said to them so far.<\/p>\n \u201cBut maybe we\u2019re all different. Maybe you want to find you want to find excuses before you even started why things are not good.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody needs to do it at the best of their ability, but that is really not how we how we would do things, especially not after you\u2019ve been told a few times that that is fine, it\u2019s legal and it\u2019s what the regulations say.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain, if somebody wants to entertain themselves by distraction, then everybody\u2019s free to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n In an interview with select media including PlanetF1.com last month, meanwhile, Red Bull Powertrains boss Ben Hodgkinson \u2013 who previously worked at Mercedes High Performance Powertrains \u2013 argued that the storm about an engine loophole was \u201ca lot of noise about nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n He explained:\u00a0\u201cI think there\u2019s some nervousness from various power unit manufacturers that there might be some clever engineering going on in some teams.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not quite sure how much of it to listen to, to be honest. I\u2019ve been doing this for a very long time and it\u2019s almost just noise. You just have to play your own race, really.<\/p>\n \u201cI know what we\u2019re doing. I\u2019m confident that what we\u2019re doing is legal. Of course, we\u2019re taking it right to the very limit of what the regulations allow.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be surprised if everyone hasn\u2019t done that. So my honest feeling is I suspect it\u2019s a lot of noise about nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cI expect everyone\u2019s going to be sitting at 16. That\u2019s what I really expect.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Mat Coch and Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? 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