Ferrari have formed ‘political alliance’ with two rival F1 teams to combat Mercedes’ engine ‘tricks’

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With a new set of F1 regulations comes a swathe of loopholes, and Ferrari have teamed up with two of their rivals on the grid to combat an engine ‘trick’ that Mercedes and Red Bull are reported to have found.

With the new ruleset marking the first new engine formula since 2014, teams have been hard at work trying to develop the most effective power unit for the upcoming season.

Of course, a regulatory overhaul also brings out the very best creative minds in each team’s respective factory.

The engineers must eke out as much performance as they possibly can for their efforts to be rewarded on track, meaning that exploiting a loophole in the regulations could be the difference between finishing first and last place.

Over the winter break, it emerged that Ferrari had been lobbying the FIA over a loophole that Mercedes and Red Bull are reported to have found, sparking controversy in the F1 paddock before the majority of cars have even been unveiled.

• READ MORE: Ferrari ‘source’ rates chances of Peter Bonnington becoming Lewis Hamilton’s new race engineer

Ferrari are leading an ‘alliance’ with Honda and Audi against Mercedes and Red Bull

According to a report by a leading Italian F1 journalist, Leo Turrini, for Sky Italia, Ferrari have entered into a ‘political alliance’ with Audi and Honda.

The union of the three F1 teams, led by Ferrari’s Enrico Gualtieri, came about through the ‘alleged tricks’ that Mercedes and Red Bull have utilised during the development of their respective engines for the upcoming season.

The basis of Ferrari’s argument references an alleged exploitation of a loophole regarding geometric compression ratios in the new power units.

Regulations mandate a 16:1 limit measured at ambient temperatures. However, once the engines are turned on and temperatures within the power unit begin to rise, the engines potentially reach a ratio of 18:1.

The counterargument from Mercedes and Red Bull is that the technical regulations do not specify an allowed compression ratio after thermal expansion. It only outlines that the ratio must be met under static conditions at ambient temperatures.

The trick is suggested to be worth around three to four tenths per lap, so it’s no wonder that the three engine manufacturers who explicitly followed the guidelines are up in arms about it.

2026 is also understood to be somewhat of a crucial season for the Prancing Horse.

Currently in the midst of their longest-ever title drought in the sport, key figures within the F1 team may be facing the chopping block if they don’t manage to show signs of imminent success.

• READ MORE: Ferrari engine customer admits Mercedes have the ‘advantage’ with 2026 power unit

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Ferrari could be in serious trouble if the 2026 F1 season doesn’t prove to be a success

Furthermore, the Scuderia faces the potential collapse of their star driver line-up that consists of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Should the next season repeat the disappointments of 2025, Leclerc and Hamilton may well exercise exit routes, heightening the pressure on the team’s current operations.

Deep down, Leclerc would like to remain a Ferrari driver for the entirety of his career in F1, but years of uncompetitive machinery have left him increasingly restless.

A driver of the Monegasque’s calibre on the F1 driver market would certainly turn a few heads up and down the paddock, so it is imperative for the Scuderia to keep him happy to ensure that they can succeed in the future.