F1 Today | FIA end compression ratio saga, Middle East tensions influence F1

Earlier today, the FIA brought an end to one of — if not the — most heated debates of the pre-season, finally closing the long-running controversy surrounding Mercedes’ power unit and the alleged advantage gained through a regulatory grey area.

Under the new directive, starting from 1 June, power units will be tested not only at ambient temperature but also at 130°C — conditions under which Mercedes’ engine was believed to increase its compression ratio from 16:1 to 18:1.

The regulation change received unanimous approval from the World Motor Sport Council. From 2027 onwards, measurements will be carried out exclusively under real operating conditions.

This means that a compromise has now been reached, which doesn’t hurt Mercedes at all and seems solely intended to give the complaining teams an easier way to catch up in 2027.

The military escalation involving the United States and Israel against Iran — and the response that followed from Tehran — does not give Formula 1 cause for concern about the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix going ahead for now.

Although an Iranian missile has landed in Bahrain, there is, at this stage, no indication that the race weekend in the Gulf state is set to be called off.

The FOM's statement reads: "Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan, not in the Middle East - those races are not for a number of weeks.

Pirelli, however, had to cancel today's tyre test in Sakhir, where Mercedes and McLaren were meant to complete miles.