Mercedes’ Engine Trick Has F1 Rivals Fuming
Honda, Audi and Ferrari are demanding the FIA ban Mercedes’ clever engine trick before the 2026 season even starts. The controversy? Mercedes found a way to increase compression ratio in the new power units.
If racing’s governing body gives in, they’d be punishing Mercedes for being brilliant while rewarding competitors who didn’t figure it out themselves.
The F1 world is already in chaos over this innovation, which Red Bull has reportedly adopted too.
So what’s the trick? Engineers discovered they could design engine parts that expand when hot, pushing pistons closer to cylinder tops than when cold. Since compression is only measured when engines aren’t at full operating temperature, this creates a sneaky performance boost.
The result? More power and better fuel efficiency.
Nowhere in the technical regulations does it say you can’t do this. The FIA simply never thought of it.
This is exactly what Formula 1 should be celebrating. Mercedes and Toto Wolff found a major loophole that left everyone stunned. That’s what F1 is all about – using the rulebook to find creative solutions that amaze friends and enemies alike.
But times have changed.
Instead of applause, teams that didn’t match Mercedes’ ingenuity are running to the FIA to complain. A compromise will likely be reached soon just to keep everyone happy.
F1 would be so much better if these teams focused on finding their own performance gains rather than whining about others’ success. That’s always been the heart of the sport – not crying when you’ve been outsmarted.
The complaining teams should remember that innovation, not complaints, is what drives Formula 1 forward.
