FIA-engineers meeting: no immediate intervention on the issue of the compression ratio

An important meeting As reported in recent weeks, Audi, Honda and Ferrari had written to the International Federation to get answers regarding the alleged functioning of the Mercedes power unit (and perhaps also the Red Bull one).
Rumors from the paddock had indicated that some engine engineers would be able to exceed the limit of the 16:1 compression ratio at rest set by the regulatory measurements, up to bringing it to 18:1 with obvious advantages in terms of horsepower and lap time. The FIA, which was already aware of the path taken by Mercedes and had given the OK, had therefore called a meeting for today, Thursday 22 January, to discuss the thorny issue with the motorists. What was decided The preview given by Mattia Binotto on the day of the Audi presentation turned out to be correct: as explained by Jon Noble on The Race, the engine engineers and the FIA ​​have agreed on a method for measuring the compression ratio with the power unit in operation, but it is unlikely that it will be introduced in the short term.
Some sources in fact declared the meeting “productive”, but with regards to the introduction of a future measurement method. In short, for the moment no intervention is planned by the Federation. And what will happen now? The FIA ​​will begin discussions with manufacturer officials to assess the feasibility of a proposed change to the technical rules to implement the new measurement procedures.
Changes of this magnitude – whether for the current season or 2027 – will however have to pass through the F1 Commission, as The Race has highlighted. Table where Mercedes and Red Bull (especially if the latter actually used the same trick) could make a wall – given that together they supply 6 of the 11 teams on the grid.
But for now everything remains like this, with the measurement of the compression ratio still carried out with the engine at rest.