VASSEUR SLAMS FIA: "EMBARRASSING" ENGINE ROW THREATENS TO OVERSHADOW 2026 F1 SEASON OPENER
Fred Vasseur calls the F1 2026 engine mess "embarrassing." Discover why Mercedes keeps its power trick until the summer break.
Fred Vasseur isn’t holding back; he’s called the whole mess around the 2026 F1 engine rules "embarrassing", and he’s got a point. The season kicks off in just two weeks, and teams are still arguing about what counts as legal under the current regulations.
After the F1 Commission met on Wednesday, the FIA said teams would vote on a proposal to tighten up tests on fuel compression ratios. Mercedes got singled out for allegedly pushing past the 16:1 limit. Word is, their engineers at Brixworth spotted a loophole and squeezed out extra power, and the usual checks can’t catch it.
Honestly, teams should be focused on their cars and drivers now, not caught up in policing what everyone else is doing. This isn’t what anyone wants to spend their time on.
Under the new rule, fuel compression ratios would get checked when the engine’s actually running hot, not just at room temperature. But here’s the kicker: the new test wouldn’t take effect until August. That gives Mercedes a pretty generous window to sort themselves out.
Vasseur, talking to AutoHebdo, didn’t mince words about the FIA’s handling of the situation. According to him, Mercedes got the green light from officials before everything blew up. Then Red Bull apparently leaked Mercedes’ trick to the other teams, and suddenly, the rest of the engine manufacturers were united in pushing the FIA to clamp down.
Wednesday’s meeting helped a bit, but with just 15 days before practice starts in Melbourne, there’s still no clear answer. Ferrari even says they gave the FIA a technical fix months ago.
Vasseur said, “There are two weeks to go until the start of the world championship, and we’re still asking for clarification on the regulations. It’s quite embarrassing. We need a quick resolution. Showing up to the first race with everyone interpreting the rules differently would mean big differences in performance. That’s not good for the sport.”
He added, “Honestly, it’s easier to lower the compression ratio than to ask the others to raise theirs. There are technical solutions, but we’ve been talking about them for months, and here we are two weeks from the first GP, still looking for answers.”
The FIA definitely doesn’t want Mercedes running away with the championship thanks to this grey area. Teams like Ferrari could end up at a power disadvantage for the first 13 races. Trying to copy Mercedes now would be expensive and probably pointless.
Auto Motor und Sport reports that F1 bosses are determined to keep Mercedes from dominating with this engine, but it wouldn’t be fair to force them to overhaul everything before Australia.
Once the FIA told Mercedes their engine was legal, this whole situation was pretty much inevitable.
The good news? A protest in Melbourne seems unlikely now, even if nobody’s really thrilled about the compromise that’s coming.
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.
