Ben Hodgkinson, technical director of Red Bull Powertrains, expressed confidence in the legality of the team’s 2026 F1 power unit, dismissing reports suggesting the contrary as “just noise”.
In recent weeks, controversy has arisen over the 16:1 compression ratio limit set in the Technical Regulations for the 2026 F1 season. According to rumours, Red Bull and Mercedes found a way to circumvent this restriction, leading Ferrari, Audi, and Honda to raise their concerns with the FIA.
However, during Red Bull’s 2026 F1 car launch event in Detroit, Hodgkinson suggested that competitors might be concerned about innovative engineering from other manufacturers.
“I think there’s some nervousness from various power unit manufacturers that there might be some clever engineering going on in some teams. “I’m not quite sure how much of it to listen to, to be honest.
Reports questioning the legality of Red Bull’s 2026 F1 engine “just noise”
Ben Hodgkinson expressed his confidence that the engine built by Red Bull Powertrains, in collaboration with new partner Ford, is legal. Consequently, dismissing recent reports of the contrary as merely “noise.” Furthermore, the Red Bull Powertrains technical director is sure that every team on the F1 grid operates at the very limit of the 2026 regulations, just as Red Bull has.
“I’ve been doing this a very long time, and it’s almost just noise. You just have to play your own race, really.
“I know what we’re doing, and I’m confident that what we’re doing is legal. Of course, we’ve taken it right to the very limit of what the regulations allow. I’d be surprised if everyone hasn’t done that. My honest feeling is that it’s a lot of noise about nothing. I expect everyone’s going to be sitting at 16, that’s what I really expect.”
Regulations are clear on the compression ratio limit and FIA testing methods
According to recent reports, Red Bull and Mercedes have found a way to run a higher compression ratio while the engine is running on track. But the FIA tests the compression ratio at ambient temperatures in accordance with the F1 Technical Regulations. Since testing is performed at ambient temperatures, teams need only remain within legal parameters when tests are conducted, as there are currently no plans to change the testing method.
Hodgkinson points out that the regulations clearly outline the compression ratio limit and the methods for testing compliance. He emphasizes that engineers must understand how components behave under different conditions.
“Any engineer that doesn’t understand about thermal expansion doesn’t belong in this sport, doesn’t deserve to be an engineer, really. Understanding how materials behave in different temperatures, pressures, stresses, loads, that’s literally our job.
“The regulations are super, super clear about compression ratio. You’ve got a 16:1 limit, the regulations say that 16:1 is measured in a very specific way, there’s a document that describes exactly how you measure it, and it has to be measured at ambient temperature.”
