2026 Drama: Alleged engine loophole

[upsidedowntoast]

https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-ra ... /10803786/

is it a joke? (not april 1 though).

"...It has not been explicitly disclosed, for instance, that the reached agreements have introduced a tolerance in the measurement of the compression ratio, extending the maximum permissible value to 16.7:1, to be measured at a temperature of 130°C. Regarding this specific aspect, a further clarification is warranted: the reference is to the oil temperature within the six-cylinder engine"

Very strange. Maybe it's because that is where Mercedes is running.

So the limit is 16.7:1

With Wolff saying they will have to make changes to their PU in order to comply with the June 1 change (according to an above post; I didn't personally hear him say that), it makes you wonder if they are currently above 16.7:1 right now, since that seems to be the agreed-upon compromise post-June 1 (if that reporting is accurate).

If that truly is the case, the FIA really should activate a more liberal form of ADUO for all manufacturers this season. If you're going to allow Mercedes to take full advantage of this trick during the first several months of the season, and then continue to - perhaps to a lesser extent - for the rest of the season, it only seems fair to allow others to replicate it ASAP.

And if this is true, how the hell does it square with this, which is also in the June 1 rule amendment?

"Any component, assembly, mechanism, or integrated arrangement of components that is designed or functions to increase the compression ratio in operating conditions beyond 16.0 is prohibited."

Sheesh.

I've only seen the 16.7 number on a few motorsport articles, not verified anywhere else.
Actually I've stopped trusting all the numbers. I've seen 18, 16.3, 15.5...at this point everyone is just "I saw it in a dream".

Considering Williams isn't winning 3rd based off the PU alone like in 2014-2015 I'm really doubting the higher numbers.

[GSBellew]

I've only seen the 16.7 number on a few motorsport articles, not verified anywhere else.
Actually I've stopped trusting all the numbers. I've seen 18, 16.3, 15.5...at this point everyone is just "I saw it in a dream".

Considering Williams isn't winning 3rd based off the PU alone like in 2014-2015 I'm really doubting the higher numbers.

I think Williams have other issues beyond the PU to contend with

[Alexf1]

[/quote]With Wolff saying they will have to make changes to their PU in order to comply with the June 1 change (according to an above post; I didn't personally hear him say that), it makes you wonder if they are currently above 16.7:1 right now, since that seems to be the agreed-upon compromise post-June 1 (if that reporting is accurate).

If that truly is the case, the FIA really should activate a more liberal form of ADUO for all manufacturers this season. If you're going to allow Mercedes to take full advantage of this trick during the first several months of the season, and then continue to - perhaps to a lesser extent - for the rest of the season, it only seems fair to allow others to replicate it ASAP.

And if this is true, how the hell does it square with this, which is also in the June 1 rule amendment?

"Any component, assembly, mechanism, or integrated arrangement of components that is designed or functions to increase the compression ratio in operating conditions beyond 16.0 is prohibited."

Sheesh.
[/quote]

Think they came to this number because Merc can get their ICE down to 16.7 in the hot test by killing the CR increasing mechanism/assembly. With it they would probably be even higher in the hot test (while still meeting the 16.0 in the ambient test).