Dispute over a special “trick”
After sharp criticism: FIA changes Formula 1 rules
02/28/2026 – 12:49 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Mercedes is calling on the competition with a special approach. Now there is a decision.
The FIA, the world automobile association, has settled the weeks-long dispute over the compression ratio in Formula 1 engines with a rule change. The adjustments unanimously decided by the World Motorsport Council mainly concern a controversial trick that Mercedes is said to have used in its engines.
The competition accuses Mercedes of increasing the compression ratio to 18:1 during racing, while the manufacturer adheres to the limit of 16:1 in the static FIA test under normal outside temperatures. The compromise found stipulates that everything will remain the same for the first races of the 2026 season.
From June 1st, the compression ratio will be checked both when warm and when cold. From 2027, measurements will only be carried out under operating conditions at 130 degrees Celsius.
“The adjustments to the technical regulations follow the pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain as well as extensive feedback from drivers and teams,” the FIA announced on Saturday. The power unit manufacturers also voted unanimously on this matter.
The rule change comes a week before the first Grand Prix of the year in Melbourne on March 8th. In the new season, completely new regulations apply, which required the development of new hybrid drives with a higher electric content. In the future, the classic combustion engine will only be allowed to contribute around 50 percent of the power; the rest will be generated by a generator.
