Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
If Mercedes’ fuel compression ratio trick is as powerful as mooted, then there will be three realistic contenders for the 2026 F1 title – Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri. But all three will be swamped in controversy.
Williams and Alpine also use Mercedes engines, but nothing that has been seen in testing so far suggests they can bridge the gap to the front. In fact, it may have become even bigger.
Kimi Antonelli has shown impressive speed at times in Bahrain but it’s still too early to expect the Italian to challenge Russell. Last season, he only prevailed in nine of the 46 competitive sessions where both drivers were classified.
Are we entering another era of Mercedes engine domination?
Norris enters the year as the reigning champion, of course, but there’s a risk that Russell and Piastri could have an asterisk next to their name if they win their first title this year.
Mercedes engine controversy will hang over McLaren and Oscar Piastri
At an F1 Commission meeting this week, it was decided that the teams will vote on a new measurement procedure for fuel compression ratios. Currently, they are only tested at room temperature, but now there’s a proposal to take a sample at 130 degrees.
It’s widely believed that Mercedes are exploiting a loophole in the rules as they are currently written. They comply with the maximum ratio of 16:1 at room temperature, but push towards 18:1 when the engine is hot.
This, in turn, generates additional horsepower worth in the region of three-tenths per lap. If the trick wasn’t powerful, then the other four engine manufacturers wouldn’t be pushing hard for a clampdown.
Are Mercedes’ rivals hiding behind 2026 ‘excuses’?
Crucially, the new measurement proposal wouldn’t come in until August. That gives Mercedes the requisite amount of time to make adjustments to their engines; it was unreasonable to impose a new test for the first race at such short notice.
The FIA were in a difficult position, but the result is that Mercedes and McLaren could have a controversial horsepower advantage for 13 out of 24 races, over half the season.
The regulations (specifically article 1.5) stipulate that teams must comply with the regulations at all times during a Grand Prix weekend. In the belief of Ferrari, Red Bull Powertrains, Audi and Honda, Mercedes do not; they just can’t prove it.
This won’t be the first time that top teams have fielded a car that is, according to some of their competitors, illegal. But Piastri and co. must accept that some of their (anticipated) victories this year will be called into question by critics, even if they aren’t formally protested.
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