Reports have recently surfaced pointing to various ways engine manufacturers like Mercedes, Red Bull Ford and Audi have found to bypass power output setbacks long feared in the upcoming set of new technical rules.

Furthermore, it is believed Mercedes and Red Bull may have found a way to increase the cylinder compression ratio when the engine is at running temperature from the prescribed 16:1 limit outlined in the upcoming regulations, which could reportedly yield four tenths in terms of sheer performance and has the added benefit of improving fuel efficiency.

In 2026 F1 cars will use 100% sustainable fuel, which has caused the series to drop its previous 100kg/h fuel flow measurement two-part device - one for the FIA's use and another for the teams' - for a single 300Mj/h fuel energy flow meter developed by independent manufacturer Allegra.

However, a change of wording in the regulations that forbids potential tampering with the new fuel flow check system suggests teams have been probing into this area in a bid to extract more performance.

Doing so could alter the data of the fuel composition's measurements as well as the readings received by the new fuel energy flow meter.

The first change clarified that teams were barred from any purposeful attempts to affect the fuel-flow meter's temperature. "Any intentional heating or chilling of the fuel-flow meter is forbidden," the first update read.

After the recent FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the wording received another adjustment: "Any device, system, or procedure, the purpose of which is to change the temperature of the fuel-flow meter is forbidden."

In F1 devices, systems or processes that intent to alter the cars' ride height are banned. However, a clever Mercedes solution to its rear suspension briefly saw the phenomenon's legal return.

Since the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, the rear of the Mercedes W12 would compress under acceleration and would rise under braking - optimising straightline speed without compromising cornering speed.

Thanks to an ingenious mechanical design whose main purpose was not to cause that shift in ride height levels. Although the ride height-altering phenomenon was present, it was said to be a mere consequence, which indeed for a brief time allowed its use due to the wording in the regulations.

With the restrictive aerodynamic and chassis regulations that were put in place to increase the racing spectacle, F1 PUMs (Power Unit Manufacturers) are exploiting the advantages the untested rulebook has to offer.

However, the FIA remains committed to enforcing the new regulations wording, and more importantly its spirit, to ensure they have a better chance of achieving the intended targets.

F1’s 2026 rules overhaul is pushing teams to seek advantages and one power unit supplier allegedly tried to block a customer team from using a specific fuel spec, prompting demands for equal access. Read the story here.

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