Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, said the series’ power unit manufacturers have unanimously approved changes to the way engine compression ratios are measured, with revisions due as early as June 1.
The V6’s internal combustion engine’s compression ratio (a measure of how much the air-fuel mixture inside the cylinder can be compressed) has been reduced to 16:1 in this generation of powerplants, in part to make it easier for newbies like Audi to build the engine.
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But rival manufacturers, led by Audi, are believed to have taken issue with a clever approach that adheres to a 16:1 compression ratio (which is how the FIA measures it) in cold and static conditions, while widening the ratio and gaining a significant advantage in hot operating conditions. Audi joins Honda and Ferrari in lobbying the FIA to resolve the issue before the start of the 2026 season in Australia next week, even though Mercedes has received assurances that its power unit is fully legal.
F1 manufacturers divided over interpretation of 2026 power unit regulations
F1 manufacturers divided over interpretation of 2026 power unit regulations
After a series of discussions, the FIA proposed a compromise that would see the five power unit manufacturers vote electronically, giving all parties 10 days to vote in favor of the proposal. The solution is to measure engine compression ratio hot and cold from June 1, and only at 130C operating conditions from the 2027 season onwards. The FIA has now said that all manufacturers have voted in favor of the proposals and the changes have been approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
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“We put a lot of effort into finding a solution to the compression ratio problem,” the FIA said in a statement on Saturday morning. “This parameter is one of the key fundamental objectives of these regulations, which aim to attract new people to the sport, and is limited in the regulations to 16:1 (measured in cold conditions).
“The FIA has been working hard to find a compromise solution and has determined that from 1 June 2026 the compression ratio will be controlled in hot and cold conditions, and subsequently only in operating conditions (130 degrees Celsius) from 2027.”
Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Red Bull Racing’s Laurent Mekies said his team, which is also producing its own power unit for the first time, just wanted to clear the air ahead of the new season.
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“We ask for clarification. Tell us what is allowed and the rest does not matter: it is important to have a clear understanding of what is allowed and then I believe every competitor should be free to follow the path they think is best to reach the result. This applies not only to power units but to everything,” Mekis said.
The FIA also said it would continue to evaluate data from pre-season testing and the first round of the season amid concerns drivers would have to use harsh energy-harvesting strategies to optimize the new power units for 2026, which rely more on electricity than their predecessors.
“The introduction of regulations in 2026 is one of the biggest changes in recent memory,” the statement continued. “All parties acknowledge that with such significant regulatory changes being introduced, there is collective experience to be learned from pre-season testing and the opening rounds of the 2026 Championship.
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“Further assessment and technical inspection of energy management issues is ongoing.”
Also read:
Toto Wolff: F1 compression drama “Storm in a Teacup”
McLaren’s Zak Brown says compression ratio saga is ‘typical F1 politics’
Mercedes and Red Bull come under scrutiny over F1 2026 engine compression ratios
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