'Storm brews around two major F1 manufacturers as 2026 loophole surfaces'

18:59, 19 Dec

Updated: 19:10, 19 Dec

byTobia Elia

Rumours suggest that some manufacturers lodged complaints with the FIA over a loophole that Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains may have found in the 2026 power unit regulations.

Power units will once again become the true focal point of the next regulatory cycle, echoing what happened in 2014 with the dawn of the hybrid era.

While the new power units will remain 1.6-litre turbo V6s, they will undergo significant changes compared to the current ones — starting with the removal of the MGU-H, deemed too complex and costly, with a tripling of electrical power set to compensate.

Another key aspect of the new engines will be the compression ratio — the parameter that describes how much the air–fuel mixture is compressed inside the cylinder before ignition — which will drop from the current 18:1 to 16:1.

Photo: Race Pictures

Did Mercedes and Red Bull find a loophole in 2026 regulations?

According to Motorsport-Magazin, this is precisely the aspect that has raised eyebrows among Ferrari, Audi and Honda with regard to the Brackley-based manufacturer and potentially Red Bull Powertrains, which is said to have devised a legal way to increase the compression ratio — unlocking up to 15 extra horsepower, theoretically worth around three tenths of a second per lap.

Checks to measure the legality of the compression ratio, much like what happened last year with flexible wings, are carried out statically at ambient temperature — a scenario that is obviously very different from when the car is actually running.

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“The regulations clearly define the maximum compression ratio and the method for measuring it, which is based on static conditions at ambient temperature. This procedure has remained unchanged despite the reduction in the permitted ratio for 2026,” an FIA spokeperson told The Race about the matter.

“It’s true that thermal expansion can influence dimensions at operating temperature, but the current rules do not currently require measurement under hot conditions. That said, the topic has been and is still being discussed within technical forums with the PUMs, as the new limit naturally raises questions about interpretation and compliance.

“The FIA continuously reviews such matters to ensure fairness and clarity, and if necessary, adjustments to the regulations or measurement procedures can be considered for the future.”

Should this advantage exist, there is a real risk of arriving in Melbourne with significant gaps between the top teams. Then, protests can be also lodged during the season opener by rival teams.

Mercedes drops teaser of 2026 power unit as F1 overhaul looms

While waiting to see if, when and how the issue will surface before the start of the season, the Brackley-based outfit became the second manufacturer after Honda to reveal the sound of its 2026 power unit.

Mercedes are widely tipped as favourites for the upcoming regulatory cycle, and such rumours — if confirmed — would only serve to validate the strength of the HPP project led by Toto Wolff.

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