Mercedes rivals plotting F1 engine rule change for Melbourne
www.the-race.comMercedes’ rivals are hoping to pull together a proposal to change Formula 1’s engine compression ratio rules in time for the start of the season in Australia, The Race has learned
How would you know that they are breaking the rules? Is suspicion enough to call the engine illegal?
Heat up the engine and find out. If Toto Wolff and his engine customers are against it, it’s an admission of guilt.
Oh they are against it? Guilty.
You already have all the facts.
I’m not in favor of a lopsided season but Mercedes found a loophole in the regulations and the other teams are salty that they either didn’t think of it or couldn’t replicate it in the case of RB.
When new regulations are at play it’s always about who can find a nice wiggle room to exploit. It will and should be closed eventually but banning it outright is just silly.
Where is the loophole there?
The bit about measuring compression ration at ambient temperature was added late in the rules cycle. Too late for rule-abiding teams to use that made for Mercedes “loophole”. See https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/fia_2026_formula_1_technical_regulations_issue_8_-_2024-06-24.pdf if you don’t believe me.