2026 Drama: Alleged engine loophole

[atanatizante]

From the press conference in Bahrain (@KemalSengulll)

Wolff just spoke about the current engine discussions: "We have taken all the assurances that everything we do complies with the rules. What we're talking about isn't even a massive performance boost. That's the situation, but in my opinion, all our competitors got a bit offended and lobbied hard with the FIA for a long time."

"This lobbying activity has largely ramped up over the last few months. So secret meetings, secret letters written to the FIA—though in this sport, there's no such thing as secret... That's what brought things to this point."

"There's a governance process. If that governance votes for a change to the engine regulations, you have to accept it. It is what it is. This would be detrimental to all teams powered by Mercedes engines in such a scenario."

"The benefit this would bring us is just a few horsepower."

"We will always respect the sport's governance. If the sport's management makes a decision against or in favor of our position, we have to comply with both."

They wouldn't all be making this fuss over a few HP, including Merc and their customers and others trying to get rid of the advantage.

Has anyone considered that this is all a smokescreen related to the hype surrounding the increase in ICE power and that, starting this year, ERS management is more important, which implies lower fuel consumption, so it is necessary to increase ICE efficiency? The implications are much greater if this efficiency increases. Firstly, if a car starts with less fuel, it will have: 1. faster lap times; 2. better tire management, especially rear tires, which are now under more stress because cars are coming out of corners much faster due to much stronger deployment compared to last year...

[Luscion]

Nikolas Tombazis from the FIA held discussions with Mercedes for a specific period amid the engine debates.

[AR3-GP]

After all, the Team Principal himself admitted that he "was struck by how the issue has become topical again. Until last Friday I was quite convinced that things would not really change". And what worries "are not so much the horses that we would lose, a handful, but more the precedent that would be created. If you change the rules now, it complicates everything and we don't even know how this could affect the performance balance system. The consequences are immense and unquantifiable".

https://autoracer.it/pu-mercedes-wolff- ... mbiamenti/

Sounds like Merc's case is not as airtight as they wanted people to think. Merc tried to pull a fast one on the FIA. FIA want to make it right.

[AR3-GP]

Hamilton calls for a level playing field.

there’s whispers of extra power that they have that the rest of us don’t… The compression rate, sort of thing… Hopefully that gets sorted and the FIA takes care of that and makes sure that we’re all starting on equal playing field.”

https://x.com/fiagirly/status/2021610431098331331

[Badger]

Hamilton calls for a level playing field.

there’s whispers of extra power that they have that the rest of us don’t… The compression rate, sort of thing… Hopefully that gets sorted and the FIA takes care of that and makes sure that we’re all starting on equal playing field.”

https://x.com/fiagirly/status/2021610431098331331

Vader turns against Sidious. The PR master taught his student well, too well...

[WardenOfTheNorth]

The talk about sensors, how would a sensor measure the geometric CR at racing temperatures?

It wouldn’t, but it would measure cylinder pressure.

Right.

But pressure isn't what the regulations talk about is it? It's geometric CR. Doesn't that require measurements of actual dimensions?

[WardenOfTheNorth]

8 cars less on the grid in Melbourne

Not just Melbourne. Would take weeks or months to redesign the ICE, fuel and software.

Wouldn't that mean those 4 teams being thrown out of the sport?

[Badger]

8 cars less on the grid in Melbourne

Not just Melbourne. Would take weeks or months to redesign the ICE, fuel and software.

Wouldn't that mean those 4 teams being thrown out of the sport?

Of course not. A new test could mean re-designs for other teams as well, everyone would need to validate their engine can actually pass it, so it would likely come later in the year if it comes at all.

[dialtone]

8 cars less on the grid in Melbourne

Not just Melbourne. Would take weeks or months to redesign the ICE, fuel and software.

Wouldn't that mean those 4 teams being thrown out of the sport?

Once again… Ferrari whole engine was redesigned in 3 months and it was crap.

Frankly all that Mercedes needs to do is machine 0.2mm shorter conrods and suddenly all good. Will it be optimal? No, but that’s hardly months of work and it’s what you find when you eff around.

[FittingMechanics]

Which engine was redesigned by Ferrari? The one that burned more fuel than allowed?

[chrisc90]

That’s presuming the CR increase comes from the rods.

[bluechris]

Which engine was redesigned by Ferrari? The one that burned more fuel than allowed?

Yeah and the bad guys stopped this Ferrari "innovation" that did set an example for MB now.
Joke aside, no matter how MB does what it does, if it does something of course, i am pretty certain they have a contingency plan from day one to plug the holes or anything to be nominal.
DarthToto just tries but i don't see light in the tunnel.

[dialtone]

That’s presuming the CR increase comes from the rods.

Doesn’t matter where it comes from, the simplest solution to lowering geometric CR is to decrease the conrod length, this works whatever chamber they have somewhere else in the cylinder or whatever other tricks they are using.

[FittingMechanics]

Which engine was redesigned by Ferrari? The one that burned more fuel than allowed?

Yeah and the bad guys stopped this Ferrari "innovation" that did set an example for MB now.
Joke aside, no matter how MB does what it does, if it does something of course, i am pretty certain they have a contingency plan from day one to plug the holes or anything to be nominal.
DarthToto just tries but i don't see light in the tunnel.

Yeah, I would be very surprised if they don't have a backup for this. Probably won't admit until forced to.

[upsidedowntoast]

If a rule change or nerf were to be applied, realistically, how will it be implemented? Printing new engines take a long time, and the cost caps (especially engine cost cap)/wind tunnel times are already spent. Not to mention it will mess up the fuel mix, aero, cooling, energy storage/harvesting, deployment/strategy math, etc. for the 4 teams.

Of course it's understandable that all the other teams are upset. But as for the FIA, why are they only handling this now, <1 month from Australia and live testing already underway, instead of last year?

I guess to me the frustrating thing is that no one really knows anything. There's a million tabloids and quotes taken out of context, but I have yet to see a good nuanced analysis.