Before last year’s Spanish Grand Prix, the FIA tightened regulations around front-wing flexibility, a move that was expected to shake up the competitive order. But if McLaren’s rivals were hoping the round 10 clampdown would reduce their advantage, they were disappointed.
Before last year’s Spanish Grand Prix, the FIA tightened regulations around front-wing flexibility, a move that was expected to shake up the competitive order.
But if McLaren’s rivals were hoping the round 10 clampdown would reduce their advantage, they were disappointed. Oscar Piastri led a one-two in Barcelona and the Woking outfit won five of the next six races.
By the second half of the season, Red Bull had caught up and possibly moved ahead of McLaren, but that shift seemed more down to upgrades than anything related to rule enforcement.
Looking ahead to this year, there is a rule change being discussed that could have a much bigger impact on how things unfold. Heading into 2026, Mercedes are seen as early title favourites just ahead of their engine customers McLaren.
Why some teams are unhappy with the 2026 fuel compression ratio and Mercedes
There was a dispute over fuel compression ratios before anyone had even set foot on the track. The FIA dropped the ratio from 18:1 to 16:1, but there are suggestions Mercedes and Red Bull have found a way around it.
Their engines pass FIA checks in parc ferme, but on track they can increase the ratio back to 18:1. Opponents argue that this goes against what the rules were supposed to achieve.
As things stand, only those teams who are underperforming compared to others can make power unit changes during the season, adding another layer of difficulty to resolving this issue.
Mercedes engine trick could be worth four tenths per lap
It’s estimated that Mercedes and perhaps Red Bull could gain a huge advantage through this trick. It could equate to an additional 13 horsepower, or as much as four-tenths per lap.
That kind of baked-in advantage could be insurmountable for the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin. Mercedes supply McLaren, Williams and Alpine, while Red Bull and Racing Bulls naturally race with the same power units.
If viable, a change to the fuel compression ratio rules during the season could theoretically transform the title landscape, potentially costing some top teams a large chunk of lap time.
There will no doubt be further developments between now and the start of the season, and it is difficult to predict how the controversy will play out. Often, winter disputes like this are forgotten by the end of the year.
Ferrari are reportedly ready to lodge a protest after the Australian GP, though, so this story may well dominate the early rounds.
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Category: General Sports
