FIA director adamant Mercedes weren’t ‘trying to cheat’ after fuel compression ratio scandal

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Mercedes’ fuel compression trick is legal despite being ‘outside the intentions of the regulations’, the FIA’s single-seater director has explained.

The F1 off-season was dominated by the scandal surrounding Mercedes’ 2026 engine, which is used by four different teams. The Silver Arrows allegedly found a way to exceed the maximum fuel compression ratio of 16:1 on track.

But because the FIA only carried out checks when the car was stationary, this was undetectable, prompting behind-the-scenes complaints from rival teams. From June’s Monaco GP onwards, the sport’s governing body will test the engines when hot, a move that may close the loophole.

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Nikolas Tombazis defends Mercedes over F1 engine scandal

Speaking to outlets including Corriere della Sera, Nikolas Tombazis reiterated that the story had been ‘blown out of proportion’. He says the FIA monitored Mercedes’ engine development closely to ensure their compliance with the rules.

Rather than targeting Toto Wolff’s team, he says the new test in Monaco was designed to protect the ‘spirit of the sport’ and stop the debate ‘dragging on’.

Tombazis made clear that Mercedes, who have won the first three races in 2026, were not ‘trying to cheat’.

“It’s an issue that’s been blown out of proportion,” he said. “I don’t think it deserved even a cent of the attention it’s received. We never believed anyone was trying to cheat; we always followed their plan: some decisions had attempted to modify the compression ratio at more favourable temperatures, and they were legal.

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“We made some decisions at the end of February to ensure that the entire F1 paddock didn’t engage in a race to find ‘exotic’ materials or solutions that would go against the spirit of the sport.

“It’s something we often do when faced with certain situations: we don’t ban them, but we prevent them from dragging on too long. I don’t accept criticism that someone was trying to cheat, even if the solutions adopted were outside the intentions of the regulations.”

Reports suggest that Mercedes have already passed the FIA’s new test, which means it’s unlikely to affect the pecking order.

Why Mercedes won’t benefit from F1’s new race start rules at Miami Grand Prix

The FIA and the teams have agreed a raft of changes to the rules ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.

F1 cars will now be fitted with a ‘low power start detection’ system that triggers MGU-K energy deployment. Some fans are unhappy with this artificial aid.

Mercedes have struggled off the line so far, losing the lead to Ferrari in the first two rounds and McLaren in Japan. But Tombazis says this is purely a safety measure that won’t offer any sporting advantage.

Indeed, if a driver uses the system ‘when the conditions aren’t right’, they will face a penalty.

“It won’t be a driver assistance system,” Tombazis said. “If someone gets off to a bad start, they won’t be able to overtake the others anyway.

“If they get stuck, however, it’s a way to avoid danger. To prevent anyone from gaining an unfair advantage, penalties have been introduced, including a mandatory pit stop if the system is activated intentionally when the conditions aren’t right.”