Rival teams pressure FIA over Mercedes advantage

February 8, 2026 Oliver Obel

Formula 1’s governing body is considering a change to how a key engine regulation is enforced, as teams continue to probe the grey areas of the sport’s 2026 rulebook. The discussion underlines how interpretation, rather than outright rule breaches, is already influencing the competitive landscape of the next era.

At the centre of the debate is fuel compression and whether current testing procedures accurately reflect how engines perform under race conditions.

A defining reset on the horizon

The 2026 season marks one of the most extensive technical resets Formula 1 has seen in years. Cars are set to become smaller and lighter, with rules aimed at improving agility and encouraging closer racing.

Power units will shift further toward electrification, reducing the role of the internal combustion engine while pairing revised aerodynamics with new energy deployment concepts. The breadth of the changes has placed a premium on regulatory interpretation, particularly in areas where measurement methods leave room for debate.

Mercedes have become a focal point in that process, with multiple reports suggesting the team may have identified a particularly effective reading of the new rules.

Compression limits under the spotlight

According to The Race, Mercedes were believed to have developed an approach linked to fuel compression limits that could deliver a gain measured in tenths of a second per lap.

Under the 2026 regulations, the maximum fuel compression ratio is reduced from 18:1 to 16:1. The report said Mercedes may be able to achieve higher effective compression when the engine is running, while still complying with FIA checks carried out when components are static.

That interpretation prompted questions from rival teams. Motorsport IT later reported that Mercedes had received written correspondence from the FIA approving its solution, a development that intensified calls for clearer enforcement.

Testing method reconsidered

Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, cited by Formula Passion, has since reported that the FIA is evaluating a change to how compression ratios are measured.

As written, the regulations rely on tests conducted on cold engine components. The proposed adjustment would involve heating V6 elements during inspections to better simulate operating conditions. Such a move could limit solutions that behave differently once the car is on track.

Any modification would require a formal vote. The same report said Red Bull, previously neutral, have aligned with teams seeking clarification, a shift that could leave Mercedes with less backing if the issue escalates.

Wolff rejects rival criticism

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has pushed back against complaints from competitors, arguing that his team has acted transparently and within the rules.

“I just don’t understand that some teams concentrate more on others and keep arguing a case that is very clear and transparent,” Wolff said.

“Communication with the FIA was very positive all along, not only on compression ratio but other things too. Specifically in that area, it’s very clear what the regulations say, what the standard procedures are.

“So just get your s*** together. Doing secret meetings and letters, and inventing ways of testing which don’t exist… we’re trying to minimise distractions and that’s looking more at us, not everybody else.”

For now, the regulations remain unchanged. Whether the FIA opts to adjust its enforcement approach could play a significant role in shaping the early competitive order of Formula 1’s next generation.

Sources: The Race, Motorsport IT, Corriere dello Sport, Formula Passion