The FIA has said it wants to keep the dispute between Formula 1 teams over the sport’s new 2026 powerplants “out of court” as it tries to resolve the issue before the start of the new season.
Ahead of the new campaign, which starts with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, Ferrari, Honda and Audi are understood to have expressed concerns that Mercedes, the pre-season title favorite, and Red Bull, which produced its own power unit for the first time, may have gained a performance advantage through a so-called ‘loophole’.
The center of the row is compression ratio limits, amid suggestions from rivals that the two manufacturers may have found a way to offer higher limits than theoretically imposed by the new 2026 regulations.
The compression ratio limit has been lowered to 16.0 from 18.0 in the previous rule set, but measurements are only made when the engine is not running at maximum temperature.
In a video interview released by the sport’s governing body on Monday, FIA single-seater director Nicolas Tombazis explained how they are approaching the issue.
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Toto Wolff has attacked a rival F1 team for criticizing the legality of Mercedes’ new engine.
“These engineers are very smart and always looking for an advantage, so some of them have found ways to potentially increase the compression ratio when the engine gets hot, and that’s something we’re discussing now,” Tombazis said.
“We have spent a lot of time discussing how we will resolve these issues and, of course, our intention is to resolve them at the start of the season.
“We don’t want controversy. We want people to compete on the track, not on the court or in the stewards’ office, and that’s what we strive for.”
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Arguments are already brewing on both sides of the debate, with Mercedes chief Toto Wolff telling those complaining about his team’s engines to “get a grip” and accusing them of “making excuses before they even start.”
On the other hand, team leaders who source powerplants that do not exploit loopholes have pointed out that they are confident that their engines are legal and comply with the rules.
The controversy comes as both new chassis and power unit regulations come into effect in what is widely seen as the biggest regulatory change in F1 history.
Tombazis added: “It is impossible and always has been to not have that area of discussion when there are new rules.
“I think what has changed is that we are determined to make this a championship of competition between the best drivers, best engineers and teams, but not a championship of interpretation of the rules.
“We want it to be a champion of engineering ability as well as driving ability, but not really a champion of smarter rule interpreters.”
‘F1 teams are not even close to voting power yet’
Sky Sports News Reporter Craig Slater said Monday morning that while the situation has become overly chaotic, there remains hope that a solution can be found.
“People may have read that Honda, Ferrari, Audi and maybe even Red Bull are going to band together to force a rule change through something called a ‘supermajority,’” Slater said.
“I was advised that there is still a long way to go.
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“This would require rubber stamping by six of the seven parties that make decisions on engines – the five engine manufacturers plus the FIA, the governing bodies and Formula 1’s commercial rights holders.
“I don’t think we are close to voting rights yet. There are other solutions that can be found and discussions are still ongoing.
“Senior figures within the sport have advised that even if some teams are having a bit of a debate about this at the moment, other issues will start to supersede it once the season starts.”
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