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Mercedes have lost a key ally in their defence against an engine loophole they are allegedly utilising in their 2026 F1 power unit as Ferrari ramp up their efforts to ban the engine trick.
After it emerged that Ferrari were ‘lobbying’ the FIA about a potential loophole that Mercedes had found in the new F1 regulations to give themselves an advantage, it was understood that Red Bull had also put it to use.
However, Red Bull insiders strongly denied the allegations after being presented with them, and their latest move in the saga suggests that Mercedes are, in fact, the only team on the grid to utilise it.
It is understood that the loophole will give the German constructor and their three customer teams, Alpine, McLaren and Williams, an advantage worth three to four-tenths of a second over a single lap.
Over the course of a full Grand Prix distance, it could be the difference between seeing the chequered flag first or last, so you can understand why the rest of the F1 grid are up in arms about it at this moment in time.
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Red Bull are now ‘ready to align’ themselves with Ferrari, Audi and Honda in regulations battle against Mercedes
It was previously reported that Red Bull changed their view on the Silver Arrows’ engine trick after it emerged that the FIA identified three options in which it can ‘penalise’ Mercedes if the German constructor is found guilty of having an illegal engine.
According to a report from Autosprint, the Austrian constructor have now ramped up their efforts of taking action against their F1 paddock rivals by signing Ferrari’s ‘letter of protest’.
The U-turn comes after the FIA ‘agreed’ upon a new plan of action that will see them measure the compression ratio of each manufacturer’s power unit in warm conditions, as opposed to just a single measurement at ambient temperatures, as per the regulations.
For the new method to be applied, it must first go through a vote that will take place between F1, the FIA and all of the engine manufacturers.
Ferrari will only need four out of the five manufacturers to vote in favour of the plan for it to come to fruition, which marks a different proceeding from the way that the initial vote over Mercedes’ engine trick took place before the Barcelona shakedown.
With Mercedes now the only representative that will cast a vote against the new initiative, it looks certain that the Scuderia will get their own way after all.
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The FIA will impose the new measurement system at the Australian Grand Prix
Ferrari were planning on protesting Mercedes’ engine at the first round of the upcoming season in Melbourne, but the FIA’s latest plan would mean that there is no longer a need for it.
The report states that the new method of measuring the compression ratio of the cylinders inside the power unit will take place at the first round of the season, so a definitive answer on whether it is legal or not should follow fairly soon.
The Brackley-based outfit were one of the more impressive teams during F1’s inaugural week of testing during the Barcelona shakedown, in reliability as well as the ultimate performance of the power unit.
Mercedes insiders have attempted to play down the performance of their new W17, but the timing sheets certainly don’t lie, and their rivals on the grid have certainly taken note of it.
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