The FIA confirms change in a key measurement in F1 engines
Given the complaints filed against Mercedes-Benz, the supervisory body decided to change the way of controlling the compression ratio. When does the modification start?
Unanimous. This was the result of the electronic vote to which the FIA subjected the manufacturers of power units for Formula 1 to make modifications to the compression ratio control system in combustion engines.. The change was two months ahead of the proposal made by the entity chaired by Mohammed Ben Sulayem and will come into effect from June 1 and not from August 1 as the International Automobile Federation intended.
It all started with the complaint of Ferrari, Audi and Honda against Mercedes-Benz. The three suppliers sent a letter to the entity that has its headquarters in the Place de la Concorde in Paris because the star’s power units would reach a compression ratio of 18.1, when the regulations state that the maximum is 16.1. The problem is that the FIA control is carried out with the engine stopped and at room temperature and the German brand would have used natural expansion elements with heat, added to a complex 3D printing layer technique. So, at maximum speed and temperature, the compression would reach 18.1, but at the time of cold measurement it would comply with the regulations.
Red Bull Ford Powertrains joined the group of complainants at the last minute and given the absolute majority reached, the FIA sent everything to a vote to make a change in the regulations. Finally, and one day before the homologation of the 2026 power units that took place this Sunday, the conclusion was reached to make a modification starting on the first day of the sixth month, this will be after the first seven events of the year have been held and before the Monaco GP, where the change will come into effect.
Starting with the race in the glamorous principality, the FIA will carry out two measurements, cold and added to 130 degrees Celsius. Starting next year, measurement will only be hot. All manufacturers voted in favor of these changes, which were ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, a necessary step for it to be legalized.
“Significant effort was made to find a solution to the compression ratio issue. This parameter, which was one of the key fundamental objectives of these regulations to attract new participants to the sport, is limited in the regulations to 16:1, measured in cold conditions. The FIA worked to find a compromise solution that determines that the compression ratio will be controlled in both hot and cold conditions from June 1, 2026, and subsequently only in operating conditions (130°C) from 2027 onwards.”
If any power unit manufacturer needs to make a modification to comply with the new way of measurement, they will have time to do so, but it is worth clarifying that everything will fall within the budget limit imposed for this year.
