Ferrari Cries Foul Play: Mercedes, Red Bull Racing In The Spotlight Amid New F1 2026 Controversy - Report

Last Updated:December 22, 2025, 13:51 IST

Mercedes and Red Bull Racing exploit a compression ratio loophole in the 2026 F1 rules, prompting FIA scrutiny as Ferrari, Honda and Audi protest to prevent a major advantage.

(Credit: AFP)

The 2025 Formula 1 season has barely drawn to a close, and the 2026 rules war has already begun — this time in the engine room.

From next season, F1 enters a radically new technical era. DRS will be scrapped, active aerodynamics introduced, and power units heavily overhauled. But it’s a tiny detail buried deep in the regulations that has triggered the first major flashpoint.

Under the new rules, the internal combustion engine’s compression ratio will be capped at 16:1, down from the current 18:1, as part of the FIA’s push to control performance and efficiency. The limit is defined in Article C5.4.3 of the Technical Regulations, which specifies both the maximum ratio and how it is measured.

And that’s where the controversy starts.

According to reports from Motorsport-Magazine.com, Mercedes and Red Bull Racing have identified a loophole in the wording. The regulation states that the compression ratio is to be measured at ambient temperature — effectively when the engine is cold.

Once the car is on track, however, temperatures inside the power unit rise dramatically. The suggestion is that teams could design engines that legally measure 16:1 when cold, but operate at a higher effective compression ratio when hot, potentially edging close to current levels.

The payoff? An estimated 15 horsepower gain — massive in a tightly regulated era.

FIA set to step in as Ferrari cries foul play

French outlet L’Équipe also reported that the FIA had called an urgent meeting with power unit manufacturers to clarify whether this interpretation is legal — and whether it aligns with the spirit of the 2026 regulations.

If the FIA green-lights the approach, Ferrari (of course, it had to be them), Honda and Audi are ready to protest, forcing the stewards to issue a formal ruling before the new cars even hit the track.

Why it matters

Twelve of the 22 cars on the 2026 grid will run Mercedes or Ford/Red Bull power units. If the loophole stands, it risks creating a competitive imbalance before the season even begins, undermining the FIA’s goal of closer racing under the new ruleset.

The verdict from this meeting could shape the pecking order of F1’s next era — months before a wheel is turned.

But in one way, Mercedes and Red Bull are the ones actually embodying the true spirit of F1: not following the fine print to a tee, but finding the loopholes in it to gain a competitive edge.

As we all know, the real race always takes place outside the circuits and inside the engine rooms.

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