F1 manufacturers moved a step closer to resolving a brewing technical dispute on Thursday, but the likelihood of any immediate regulatory change remained remote. The FIA convened engine technical experts to address growing concerns over how the sport measures compression ratios under the F1 2026 engine regulations. The group made progress in agreeing a potential methodology for future measurements at operating temperature, but the talks fell well short of prompting any short-term action.
F1 2026 engine regulations under scrutiny
The controversy centred on a key detail within the F1 2026 engine regulations, which limit compression ratios to 16:1 when measured at ambient temperature. It does not account for behaviour once the engine is running hot.
Rival manufacturers believed this distinction had opened the door to a competitive advantage. Rivals suspected Mercedes, and to a lesser extent Red Bull, of exploiting the regulation by using designs that allowed compression ratios to rise as temperatures increased. They argued that this delivered gains in efficiency and performance without breaching the letter of the rules.
Ferrari, Audi and Honda formally raised the issue with the FIA, prompting the governing body to organise Thursday’s technical meeting. The aim was not to judge legality, but to explore whether the regulation itself needed refinement.
Technical alignment, political reality
Manufacturers aligned on how compression ratios could be measured reliably at high operating temperatures in the future. That agreement marked an important step, given the complexity of monitoring engines in real-world conditions.
However, the discussion remained firmly theoretical. Any change to the F1 2026 engine regulations would require approval through the F1 Commission, making short-term action unlikely. Manufacturer bosses would need to agree that a rule change was justified, before a proposal could be taken to the F1 Commission for a formal vote.
That process was expected to be challenging. Mercedes-powered teams accounted for four entries on the grid, while Red Bull operated two. Together, they held significant influence over any regulatory decision. Without their support, passing a change would prove difficult.
Status quo holds
Even those pushing for clarification did not expect immediate consequences. Audi’s F1 project chief Mattia Binotto made clear that the objective of the meeting was to establish a methodology, not to reinterpret the regulation mid-cycle.
For now, the rules remained unchanged. Compression ratios continued to be measured at ambient temperature, and any advantage derived from current engine designs stayed in place.
The episode underlined a familiar dynamic in Formula 1. Technical innovation moved faster than regulation, and interpretation often decided competitive advantage. Thursday’s meeting pointed towards future alignment, but the balance of power ensured that any meaningful change would come slowly, if at all.
