F1
The FIA and engine manufacturers are meeting to resolve the controversy surrounding engines before 2026.
© DPPI
As part of the regulatory change of the F1 For the 2026 season, the FIA has set the engine compression ratio limit at 16, down from 18 previously. However, engines designed by Classic Mercedes for sale et Red Bull Powertrains allegedly managed to exploit a loophole in the technical regulations.
The thermal expansion of the cylinder could indeed allow a compression ratio close to 18 to be achieved under real-world driving conditions, without formally exceeding the limit established during testing. If, in practice, the Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains engines actually reached a compression ratio of 18 under driving conditions, they would indeed appear to be non-compliant. However, such a situation seems impossible to verify, as the compression ratio is measured at ambient temperature in the pit lane.
Such a level of compression would give the cars a significant power boost, resulting in a gain of approximately 0,3 seconds per lap, or a total of 17,1 seconds over a 58-lap Grand Prix, for example. An undeniable advantage that has prompted a reaction from the competition. Audi, Honda, and Classic Ferrari for saleThe engine manufacturers, who supply the power units for the rest of the F1 grid in 2026, have not hesitated to express their dissatisfaction. The engine manufacturers and the FIA are therefore scheduled to meet on January 22nd to address these issues.
The FIA reacts
The governing body is nevertheless optimistic about a calming of tensions before the start of the 2026 season. Otherwise, some teams could protest, drawing the FIA into a showdown that it is absolutely trying to avoid.
« Of course, everyone is extremely passionate and competitive, and when people are in that state of mind, it can create a certain blindness to other arguments., explains the director of the car Nikolas Tombazis of the FIA spoke to our colleagues at Reuters the January 21. Some then present their point of view as the only truth. Unfortunately, things are never that simple. That's where we come in, to ensure these points are clarified. I also don't think it's as big a deal as the press is currently making it out to be. »
The meeting aims to clarify " certain technical aspects of the subject "without necessarily arriving at a permanent solution." I think everything will be fine. He added. It is essential to ensure that there are no controversies, because we want to go racing, not find ourselves in court or in hearings after the first race. "The FIA should therefore take advantage of this meeting to clarify the rules and, above all, align all the teams in preparation for 2027."
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vincent moyet
23/01/2026 at 05:21 a.m.
It seems very unclear. How can we know that Mercedes and RBPT achieve this higher compression ratio when the engine is hot, if it's unverifiable? And why wouldn't the same phenomenon occur mechanically on all engines? It therefore seems very vague and unverifiable, but doubt has been sown, perhaps by engine manufacturers struggling with performance (Honda, who were said to be pessimistic about their engine?) seeking to compensate?
Emmanuel Delay
22/01/2026 at 09:07 a.m.
Another parody of a season dominated by the star, like in 2020 with its DAS?
Yves-Henri RANDIER
23/01/2026 at 03:50 a.m.
It seems a bit difficult because the regulations are extremely complicated, somewhat restricting the creativity of the engineers... but anything is still possible in F1!
Yves-Henri RANDIER
22/01/2026 at 03:47 a.m.
A meeting aimed at clarifying "certain technical aspects of the subject" which seem to stem from a rumor about a technical point impossible to verify! Confusion is brewing as early as the Grand Prix in Melbourne, since the preliminary tests certainly won't provide much information to properly assess compliance with the new regulations?
DANIEL MEYERS
22/01/2026 at 06:27 a.m.
"will certainly not provide much information." Whether in preliminary testing or during the season, obviously not, since it can't be controlled except when the car is stationary! In short, a major blunder by the FIA, which is legislating the uncontrollable! And which is siding with everyone thanks to two contradictory articles.