FIA CONFIRMS MAJOR LOOPHOLE IN NEW 2026 FORMULA 1 POWER UNITS
Nikolas Tombazis confirms an F1 engine loophole as Mercedes exploits compression ratios, leaving Ferrari and Audi fuming for 2026.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis just confirmed what the paddock’s been buzzing about: at least one Formula 1 team has pulled off a power unit trick that’s already causing a storm before the new season even starts.
The switch to new power units hasn’t just shaken up the tech; it’s brought new names onto the grid. Renault’s out, but now we’ve got Audi finally joining, Honda back in the mix, and Red Bull Powertrains up and running. And with Cadillac backed by General Motors joining soon, the lineup looks fresher than it has in years.
A big reason for all this change? The rulebook now splits power 50-50 between combustion and electric energy, steering F1 in a new direction. But here’s the thing: Mercedes spotted a loophole and ran with it.
It all comes down to the compression ratio inside the engine. The FIA checks it at ambient temperatures and expects a ratio of 16:1, but Mercedes figured out how to bump it up to 18:1 when the engine heats up at race pace. That little trick gives them more efficiency on track.
Naturally, their rivals aren’t happy. Ferrari, Audi, Honda—they’re all fuming. The FIA’s now scrambling to sort things out before the Australian Grand Prix. No one wants this to end up in court.
Tombazis explained why the rules were written this way in the first place. “There are all these pistons moving, turning the crankshaft, pulling air and fuel in. Designing engines to hit high compression ratios isn’t easy.
“When we set these regulations, we wanted to bring in new manufacturers. It worked—now we’ve got five, and another on the way. If we hadn’t changed things, we’d probably be down to two by now, and that’s a problem.
“Newcomers always start behind. We had to level the playing field, or they’d never catch up, especially with cost caps and development limits. It’s still tough, but at least now it’s possible.
“That's why we simplified some things and cut costs. The compression ratio was one of those changes. We dropped it from 18:1, which was barely reachable, to 16:1 as a compromise.”
The FIA admits, without naming names, that some teams have found ways to push the ratio higher. The goal now is to fix the loophole before the season begins.
“These engineers are clever and always looking for an edge. Some found ways to increase the ratio when the engine’s hot, and that’s what we’re talking about now,” Tombazis said.
“We’ve spent a lot of time trying to solve this. We want it sorted before the first race. The competition should happen on the track, not in the courtroom. That’s the aim.”
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
