Ted Kravitz explains the FIA’s current stance on Mercedes’ 2026 engine amid Red Bull protests

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Mercedes are nervously waiting for the FIA’s verdict on their 2026 power unit after protests from rival manufacturers.

The Brackley outfit have found a loophole with the compression ratio of the power unit. The FIA changed the rules to 16:1 for 2026, but Mercedes have read between the lines of the regulations and have potentially found a trick worth up to three tenths per lap.

This has caused outrage from Ferrari, Audi and Honda, who are questioning the legality of the engine. Recently, Red Bull joined the protest of the other three manufacturers, after they could not perfect the trick that Mercedes had.

Is Toto Wolff playing mind games with Red Bull?

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The controversy has dominated the paddock in Bahrain during the second 2026 shakedown. The FIA have held meetings about the issue of the compression ratio and whether Mercedes’ car will be deemed legal.

Mercedes are becoming ‘more heated’ over the situation, with Toto Wolff emphatically calling out his rivals and telling them to focus on their own car. Fortunately for him, his team is set to receive good news.

Ted Kravitz says the FIA will not change the rules regarding Mercedes’ compression ratio trick until 2027

The FIA’s engine chief approved Mercedes’ power unit, deeming the car legal. Furthermore, Mercedes’ combustion rate was secretly checked by the governing body and it was again approved.

Pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz shared the latest on the issue on Sky Sports F1 (11/2, 8:48 pm) after day one of testing in Bahrain. He explained that the FIA are not looking to change the rules until 2027, which would mean that Mercedes’ engine trick will be allowed in 2026.

“Red Bull Racing, we believe, Red Bull Powertrains have joined the group of people who are objecting to the Mercedes power unit and the balancing decisions in terms of the combustion ratio story is with Formula 1 and the FIA,” said Kravitz.

“But they do not look like they want to get involved in anything controversial, and so that means they’re going to say that the Mercedes engine passes the rules the way they’re written.

“They’re not going to change the rules the way they’re written, and it’ll be maybe changing the rules for next year to tighten that up.

“But it looks like the objections of Audi and Honda and now Red Bull Powertrains and Ferrari will fall on deaf ears in terms of getting the rules changes in the middle of the season.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Mercedes F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Mercedes threatened to boycott the Australian Grand Prix over 2026 engine controversy

If the FIA does approve of the compression ratio loophole, Mercedes will be at ease knowing that the issue has been resolved. It could have reached a breaking point.

It has been reported that Mercedes have threatened to boycott the Australian Grand Prix if the rules are changed with the power units. The works team, plus Williams, Alpine and McLaren would not be on the grid.

There are even rumblings that, if the rules were changed, those four teams would not make it to Melbourne anyway, as Mercedes would have to re-design their power units at such short notice.

It would be a disastrous start to the season and the new era of regulations. But according to Kravitz, much to the annoyance of Ferrari, Audi, Honda and Red Bull, nothing is set to change until next year.