Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
The FIA introduced a technical directive ahead of last season’s Spanish Grand Prix that was predicted to have a significant impact on the pecking order. They became much stricter with regard to front-wing flexibility.
But if McLaren’s rivals were hoping that 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.
When Red Bull eventually closed in and arguably overtook McLaren in the second half of the season, it was most probably down to upgrades, rather than the FIA directive.
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This year, though, there’s the potential for a mid-season rule change that has a genuinely transformative effect on the title race. Mercedes enter 2026 as the favourites, perhaps slightly ahead of engine customers McLaren.
Mercedes rivals want fuel compression ratio change after summer break
Before any cars had even hit the track, a dispute over fuel compression ratios emerged. The FIA has reduced the ratio from 18:1 to 16:1, but reports suggest Mercedes and Red Bull have found a loophole.
Essentially, their engines will pass FIA checks when the car is in parc ferme, but out on track, they are able to increase the ratio back to 18:1. Rivals have suggested this violates the spirit of the rules.
According to The Race, the FIA are currently satisfied with the legality of this approach and are ‘highly unlikely’ to take a different view before the season starts. The item could be top of the agenda when the manufacturers meet during pre-season testing.
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Some of Mercedes’ rivals are ‘pushing for action to be taken after the summer break’, rather than waiting until 2027. Measures could include stricter FIA checks or even removing the limit altogether.
As the rules currently stand, only the teams who are lagging behind are allowed to change their power units during the season, which complicates the issue further.
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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