2026 Drama: Alleged engine loophole

[Y-250.A]

Stella mentioned that Mercedes will likely still have the upper hand in terms of the power unit, even though McLaren runs the same engine. The reason is that Mercedes has its own software management. Technically, every team develops its own control software for the power unit.

This software basically manages how the ICE and the hybrid system work together — things like energy harvesting, deployment, and overall energy management.

Because of that, even after June 1st, Mercedes could still remain marginally ahead if the other teams don’t fully understand how to optimize their software and extract the maximum performance from the system. However, it’s likely that they will be able to get it perfectly dialed in by then.

NB: Ferrari had a software management issue during Q2 and Q3, but that doesn’t really change the fact that Mercedes still seems to have an advantage.

[bluechris]

To those so convinced that there is cheating... what could convince you that there isn't? What would you need to see?

The only comparison we have with the same engine is McLaren and there are many differences with the MB.
1st they received the engine in Australia with the final revision were the MB had it from testing so much more time to fix teething problems.
2nd they have total different gearing which may play role here.
3nd they say that McLaren is overweight.
4th even if it is the same engine, the control software is fun McLaren. This is huge to get it right especially if count also what i day in No1.

Finally we have in our minds that McLaren who had good aero with underground effect cars, is very good in car design but we don't v know for good they are with flat floor's.

Anyway, is not a sense that MB has something extra, its obvious from the telemetry now. It was obvious that something was fishy with the Ferrari engine before some years but it's not when MB is in the game as always.

P.S. i don't count at all the other 2 teams with MB engine

[venkyhere]

To those so convinced that there is cheating... what could convince you that there isn't? What would you need to see?

SoC plot and time derivative of SoC plot (actual telemetry, not estimate) comparison across teams. The plot has to 'prove' that the merc teams 'area under the curve' is same w.r.t other teams (even the teams who are clients of the merc PU).

My guess is that :
(i) Merc ICE is producing more than 400KW peak which allows surplus ICE power to 'leak' to the MGU-K and charge battery, while the rest goes to the gearbox. In other words, recharging battery (which automatically allows more deployment) in parts of the track where other teams can't (because their ICE produces no more than 400KW). Algorithm/Aero advantage can't be this high between factory and clients (because I think RUS/ANT were not even driving a perfect lap).
(ii) Zero trust that FIA have the motive or the means to 100% guarantee that the ICE used in the merc car is the same as the ones supplied to their customers. Sending 'document proofs' or CAD files or conducting 'official inspections' etc are not devoid of obfuscation/corruption ; and F1 is not exactly a business that holds 'integrity' as a prime virtue.

[hollus]

So we have moved from they cheat with 18:1 to they cheat with a chamber to they cheat with 16.3:1 to they cheat by not going down to 15.3:1 to they cheat by harvesting extra.

[venkyhere]

So we have moved from they cheat with 18:1 to they cheat with a chamber to they cheat with 16.3:1 to they cheat by not going down to 15.3:1 to they cheat by harvesting extra.

Whatever be the way they cheat, the 'end objective' has to be to utilize the extra peak power & put it to work to harvest extra, ever since the CR controversy broke out. They wouldn't put the extra peak power directly visible in the acceleration numbers available in the telemetry, anyway. That would be a dumb thing to do.

[gearboxtrouble]

Post quali my main observation is I do not think its a coincidence that RBPT seem to have the best non Mercedes engine. They were the other team rumored to be exploiting the same alleged loophole though to a lesser degree and while the media has reported their support for these new tests we haven't heard anything from them on this issue beyond Hodgkinson pretty clearly defending the exploitation of these gray areas. It's possible that its RBPT that watered down any intervention by conditioning their support on only allowing changes that they knew they could pass as well.

[AR3-GP]

Post quali my main observation is I do not think its a coincidence that RBPT seem to have the best non Mercedes engine. They were the other team rumored to be exploiting the same alleged loophole though to a lesser degree and while the media has reported their support for these new tests we haven't heard anything from them on this issue beyond Hodgkinson pretty clearly defending the exploitation of these gray areas. It's possible that its RBPT that watered down any intervention by conditioning their support on only allowing changes that they knew they could pass as well.

In my opinion, the distinction between RBPT and Mercedes is that RBPT did not seek to go above 16:1 with any tricks. They may have only sought to preserve the 16:1 ratio where it would otherwise decrease. It is Mercedes who is believed to be working above 16:1, and for which RBPT sought clarification and new test.

[motobaleno]

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"

[basti313]

I think one of the most interesting comments on the topic was from Russel....that Ham will fly back with him and will complain about compression tricks...that tells something.

[PlatinumZealot]

https://i.postimg.cc/4x8ZRgbP/battery.png
how does mercedes recharge so much more even compared to mclaren?

My sources are whispering of "inside wheel battery charging"

The differential has a special design that transfers torque only from the inside rear wheel when the car is decelerating or off throttle in the turns.

This also helps the car turn better at the same time.

Is this legal? Should be. But my sources are wild for this one.

[motobaleno]

https://i.postimg.cc/4x8ZRgbP/battery.png
how does mercedes recharge so much more even compared to mclaren?

My sources are whispering of "inside wheel battery charging"

The differential has a special design that transfers torque only from the inside rear wheel when the car is decelerating or off throttle in the turns.

This also helps the car turn better at the same time.

Is this legal? Should be. But my sources are wild for this one.

That's basically what every mechanical limited slip differential does. No magic here. BUT for sure differential settings could interact with energy harvesting and for sure mercedes has investigated these interactions much deeper than client teams until now. So it is possbile that even with all other parameters being equal(included software and we know that this is not likely the case), still mercedes manages to harvest more.

A step forward would be an electronic controlled limited slip differential but that would be traction control...

[Farnborough]

https://i.postimg.cc/4x8ZRgbP/battery.png
how does mercedes recharge so much more even compared to mclaren?

My sources are whispering of "inside wheel battery charging"

The differential has a special design that transfers torque only from the inside rear wheel when the car is decelerating or off throttle in the turns.

This also helps the car turn better at the same time.

Is this legal? Should be. But my sources are wild for this one.

That's basically what every mechanical limited slip differential does. No magic here. BUT for sure differential settings could interact with energy harvesting and for sure mercedes has investigated these interactions much deeper than client teams until now. So it is possbile that even with all other parameters being equal(included software and we know that this is not likely the case), still mercedes manages to harvest more.

A step forward would be an electronic controlled limited slip differential but that would be traction control...

They've used, for many years, exactly that.

I put, on forum a couple of years ago, about braking on rear axle through the differential (that's what happens in regeneration) has the ability to steer the car IF that differential is opened during that phase.

They have habitually "opened" the slip limited capability for off throttle corner entry phase for years anyway.

BRAKING through the differential with it opened has the affect of favouring the wheel with most traction (that's the "outside" wheel) while RETARDING the inner located wheel relative to the outer one. And that's steering the vehicle to turn more effectively during that phase.
This would disappear when brake friction discs come into play, as that brings retardation parity back across the rear axle, as the rules demand.

This principle can be easily demonstrated if you know where to look in finding it. It just takes mind "moulding" to understand it in this racing scenario.
Ultimately it's the outside wheel, having more peak load traction (as the car leans more on that one) that facilitates this effect, the inside wheel contributes less to regeneration in this scenario.

[Farnborough]

Post quali my main observation is I do not think its a coincidence that RBPT seem to have the best non Mercedes engine. They were the other team rumored to be exploiting the same alleged loophole though to a lesser degree and while the media has reported their support for these new tests we haven't heard anything from them on this issue beyond Hodgkinson pretty clearly defending the exploitation of these gray areas. It's possible that its RBPT that watered down any intervention by conditioning their support on only allowing changes that they knew they could pass as well.

In my opinion, the distinction between RBPT and Mercedes is that RBPT did not seek to go above 16:1 with any tricks. They may have only sought to preserve the 16:1 ratio where it would otherwise decrease. It is Mercedes who is believed to be working above 16:1, and for which RBPT sought clarification and new test.

Interviewed in Australia (I believe) TW stated that they will have to make changes/modifications to PU in complying with June technical directive.

Isn't that indicative of being "out of range " with regard to the other PU manufacturers ?

[AR3-GP]

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