2026 Drama: Alleged engine loophole

[AR3-GP]

They went out of their way to remove flexibility from the way they can test this. They could have left it ambiguous, it is tested and not specify at which temperature or in what way. To me this change means they are fine with the solution.

Tombazis now saying they don't want this to be about rules interpretation means they don't want to be challenged on this. At least that is how I would take it. They added "at ambient" so they don't care what happens at other temperatures.

Okay, but I think you were not saying the same thing before and I was confused.

I think the fact they put in writing that the test is at ambient means they will look favorably to teams protesting.

It sounds like you wanted to say "they will not look favorably"

Yeah, my bad. I wanted to say they don't want teams protesting.

Okay, now I understand. I'm not sure I agree about the purpose of the wording of the regulations. Now that we have some words from the source, I don't think the issue is so clear cut anymore. Tombazi said this:

The Federation's goal is to prevent the world championship from moving from the tracks to the courtrooms to discuss the gray areas of the regulations: "We want people to compete on the track and not in court or in the stewards' room. We are determined to make this a championship of competition between the best drivers and engineers, but not a championship of interpretation of the rules. We want it to be a championship of engineering and driving prowess, not of those who are the shrewd interpreters of the rules," Tombazis firmly concluded.

https://autoracer.it/tombazis-fia-non-v ... 26-motore/

Who do you think he is referring to as "shrewd interpreters of the rules"? I now think that the FIA doesn't support any team that has designed an engine to exceed the compression ratio of 16, because only a shrewd interpretation of the rules would achieve this. Tombazi has specifically taken a stance against that here.

If Mercedes has done this, I doubt they have sought clarifications in a direct and unambiguous way. They've likely raised questions in an unconnected and misleading fashion, only to obtain signatures and to tease out a certain regulatory clarification that was issued in October of 2025.

[Anony Mous Engineerd]

Damn... very saw this thread,

I'm surprised Honda isn't on board with testing at cold only. They had a variable compression ratio mule that used a cylindrical fire ring/o-ring to seal the combustion chamber and a peizo-electrically controlled head gasket that would expand/contract with current and could change c.r. that way... I doubt there would be a full 2 pts of c.r. though...

[dialtone]

Damn... very saw this thread,

I'm surprised Honda isn't on board with testing at cold only. They had a variable compression ratio mule that used a cylindrical fire ring/o-ring to seal the combustion chamber and a peizo-electrically controlled head gasket that would expand/contract with current and could change c.r. that way... I doubt there would be a full 2 pts of c.r. though...

As in lift the whole engine cylinder head by becoming thicker?

That would be shockingly illegal, the rules specifically state what parts are allowed to move in an engine.

[AR3-GP]

The fact that this gray area has arisen at all is not a reason for criticism, but completely normal: "Of course, it is always our goal that everything is clearly regulated. But when the rules change so much, there are always many points that you can't foresee," Tombazis defends himself.

This also suggest that 16:1 at all times was the desired interpretation. There are some who believe that the amendment of the wording in October of 2025 was the FIA greenlighting a loophole. However, it sounds like the FIA did not intend anyone to exceed 16:1, and that exceeding it is not something they foresaw or wanted to enable.

If this had already been well deliberated between any alleged teams and the FIA, they wouldn't be seeking to have new discussions ahead of Melbourne. They would have said it's okay a long time ago.

[catent]

The FIA certainly could have done a better job of tightening up the language in the rules/measurement procedure in an effort to close this loophole before it was exploited, but IMO Mercedes is not absolved of responsibility, either. I think any intelligent person reading the regulations in good faith would've flagged Mercedes (alleged) development path as a high-risk loophole that could've been anticipated to potentially be closed.

[dialtone]

The FIA certainly could have done a better job of tightening up the language in the rules/measurement procedure in an effort to close this loophole before it was exploited, but IMO Mercedes is not absolved of responsibility, either. I think any intelligent person reading the regulations in good faith would've flagged Mercedes (alleged) development path as a high-risk loophole that could've been anticipated to potentially be closed.

History shows Mercedes has ALWAYS been allowed to race with illegal parts for at least a full season.

Even when oil burning was removed, Mercedes argued to FIA that their oil burning was integral part of their engine and they couldn’t remove it and FIA allowed them only to keep doing it, although in a more controlled way.

They have ALWAYS gotten away with it, I don’t blame them too much for this state that FIA created. Why would they expect something different when for the past 2 decades they’ve done what they wanted from illegal tire tests, to illegal oil burning, to not giving engine modes to customer teams, DAS, TD39 and so on and so forth.

[AR3-GP]

Even when oil burning was removed, Mercedes argued to FIA that their oil burning was integral part of their engine and they couldn’t remove it and FIA allowed them only to keep doing it, although in a more controlled way.

I suspect that this will be the current line of argument from any offending team. I don't think anything will change this year.

[bluechris]

The FIA certainly could have done a better job of tightening up the language in the rules/measurement procedure in an effort to close this loophole before it was exploited, but IMO Mercedes is not absolved of responsibility, either. I think any intelligent person reading the regulations in good faith would've flagged Mercedes (alleged) development path as a high-risk loophole that could've been anticipated to potentially be closed.

History shows Mercedes has ALWAYS been allowed to race with illegal parts for at least a full season.

Even when oil burning was removed, Mercedes argued to FIA that their oil burning was integral part of their engine and they couldn’t remove it and FIA allowed them only to keep doing it, although in a more controlled way.

They have ALWAYS gotten away with it, I don’t blame them too much for this state that FIA created. Why would they expect something different when for the past 2 decades they’ve done what they wanted from illegal tire tests, to illegal oil burning, to not giving engine modes to customer teams, DAS, TD39 and so on and so forth.

This were all innovations my friend.

[FNTC]

Changing their compression ratio in a short time is probably not feasible, and I don't see the FIA disqualifying them either, but it's possible that they reach some deal where they mandate the mercedes powered cars to have less electrical energy or something if they are overpowered and the FIA wants to clamp down. We will see.

[Sergej]

Watching Tombazis' interview, my feeling is that they are desperately trying to find a way to let Mercedes engine teams race without upsetting too much other teams, since of course they cannot afford to DSQ 4 teams.

[pantherxxx]

"“I know what we're doing, and I'm confident that what we're doing is legal. Of course, we've taken it right to the very limit of what the regulations allow. I'd be surprised if everyone hasn't done that. My honest feeling is that it's a lot of noise about nothing. I expect everyone's going to be sitting at 16, that's what I really expect.”

-Red Bull Powertrains director Ben Hodgkinson

Actually, in light of the fact that Red Bull is also against Mercedes' trick, this can be interpreted in a completely different way. In fact, they are suggesting that they have gone to the absolute limit, just like everyone else. And everyone will be at 16. So going beyond what Mercedes would do will not be allowed. Red Bull's engine chief is confident about this.

[f1isgood]

Watching Tombazis' interview, my feeling is that they are desperately trying to find a way to let Mercedes engine teams race without upsetting too much other teams, since of course they cannot afford to DSQ 4 teams.

If they want to do that they can do lots of things like reducing amount of fuel that flows and things like that. They wont though, its not new for the FIA.

[f1isgood]

Changing their compression ratio in a short time is probably not feasible, and I don't see the FIA disqualifying them either, but it's possible that they reach some deal where they mandate the mercedes powered cars to have less electrical energy or something if they are overpowered and the FIA wants to clamp down. We will see.

I think with more combustion power they dont need as much electrical energy as other teams do. They have to figure out a way to nerf the power from burning fuel quite a bit if they think Mercedes/RB has done something thats well and beyond what the regulations are supposed to allow.

Edit: Added Red Bull

[AR3-GP]

The most likely outcome is outlawed from 2027 onwards. It's how the FIA operates.

[Sergej]

Watching Tombazis' interview, my feeling is that they are desperately trying to find a way to let Mercedes engine teams race without upsetting too much other teams, since of course they cannot afford to DSQ 4 teams.

If they want to do that they can do lots of things like reducing amount of fuel that flows and things like that. They wont though, its not new for the FIA.

what do you think will happen ? Clearly Mercedes can't redo its engine at this point; if the majority of teams + FIA/FOM approve the hot test, and Mercedes PU can't pass it, how will they avoid to DSQ 4 teams ? that rage burst from Toto the other day makes sense now.