The final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain has exposed the deep rift in the F1 paddock, and Max Verstappen has officially broken his silence on the “compression ratio” controversy, accusing Mercedes of extreme sandbagging to influence the FIA’s upcoming regulatory decisions on their engine.
While the physical testing of the 2026 machines continues, a psychological war is unfolding over engine legality and performance.
The Mercedes F1 engine row with Max Verstappen giving his thoughts
A technical dispute regarding the 16:1 compression ratio limit is at the heart of the conflict. Rival teams suggest Mercedes engineered a system that complies during static inspections but achieves a higher ratio under race conditions.
Toto Wolff recently downplayed the advantage in terms of power, estimating a gain of only 2-3hp.
Verstappen quickly dismantled this claim about Mercedes’ engine during a Dutch media session, believing the gap is more akin to 20-30hp.
“You definitely have to add a zero to that! And maybe even more. But, you know, I fully understand what they are trying to do these days,” the four-time world champion stated.
The Dutch driver believes Mercedes is intentionally minimising the impact of their “trick.” He wants to avoid a last-minute rule change. He views the narrative, which labels Red Bull as the 2026 favourite, as a pure diversion tactic. Verstappen believes it is designed in this way to keep Mercedes under the radar.
Verstappen predicting a Melbourne surge in performance from the Mercedes F1 engine
Verstappen is convinced that the true pecking order remains hidden. He argues that Mercedes is holding back performance to manage the political fallout of the engine row. By allowing Red Bull to clock high lap counts, the Silver Arrows can position themselves as the “underdog.”
The four-time World Champion has already predicted a dramatic shift in form for the season-opener.
“Well, I can tell you one thing: just wait till Melbourne and see how much power they suddenly find. I already know that right now,” Verstappen asserted.
He considers the “favourite” status placed on his team as nonsensical. He pointed out that Bahrain testing has never accurately predicted a champion on the first day, especially under a radical new ruleset.
A methodical approach to complexity
Verstappen claims to remain unaffected despite the escalating F1 political noise regarding Mercedes engine. The sheer complexity of the 2026 regulations means his focus is on basic system understanding. Red Bull is currently working through a “very long list” of technical fixes. They aim to refine the RB22’s drivability.
The driver emphasised that the team’s objective is to complete their run plan and learn.
“For me personally, it’s more like diversion tactics. But that’s okay. I mean, I focus on what we’re doing here with the team. Because honestly, for us, there’s still so much to learn. This new ruleset is so complex that we just want to do our laps. And yeah, just go from there,” he explained.
While he admits the new cars are “not nice to drive,” he remains committed to maximising his tools.
Prospective outlook
The focus shifts to the FIA’s headquarters as teams pack up in Bahrain. The governing body must decide whether to fit sensors to monitor compression ratios or not. They could also maintain current static testing protocols. This decision will define the competitive landscape for the Australian Grand Prix.
The straights of Albert Park will reveal the true extent of the Mercedes power unit’s potential if Verstappen’s prediction holds true. The “sandbagging” narrative serves as a high-stakes standoff for now. Red Bull is preparing for a fight, while Mercedes attempts to stay invisible.
The true power of the 2026 era remains shrouded in desert dust, waiting for the first green light in Melbourne.
