Mercedes engine case, the indiscretion: Ferrari pressing the FIA, Red Bull neutral

Mercedes in the crosshairs Today’s edition of Corriere dello Sport, written by Fulvio Solms, reported the latest updates relating to the case of the Mercedes thermal V6 which would be able to exceed the 16:0 compression ratio established by the new regulation, measured when cold.
These indiscretions, never denied, have outlined a picture that is more difficult than ever for the International Federation, called to resolve a rather important issue on the eve of the start of the 2026 world championship. The position of the FIA ​​The Roman newspaper explained that the Federation, informed of the Mercedes project, had initially given the OK to the solution studied by the team led by Toto Wolff.
The letter received from three of the rival engine manufacturers, however, would have pushed the FIA ​​to evaluate a different approach, first proposing to use this trick only for the 2026 season and subsequently starting a dialogue with the teams putting on the table the hypothesis of an intervention on the rules in the middle of the season, driven by the pressure of the angry power unit manufacturers. The lineups on the field On one side there are clearly Mercedes and the teams that source the power unit from them, namely world champion McLaren, Williams and Alpine.
In the opposing camp, pressuring the FIA ​​and signatories of the letter sent to the FIA, there are Ferrari (which also supplies Haas and Cadillac), Honda (linked to Aston Martin) and Audi.
However, Red Bull (and therefore Racing Bulls) remained neutral, since – according to what Corriere dello Sport reports – they have not yet been able to replicate the Mercedes solution and have no intention of starting bitter political battles as happened in the previous cycle led by Christian Horner. Clearly the team led by Laurent Mekies would like clarity on the subject, but is not worried in the slightest about the regularity of its engine. Now what will happen? According to Corriere dello Sport, a summit between engine manufacturers and the International Federation will be held on January 22nd, with the aim of resolving the issue: “Ferrari, Honda and Audi ask that the FIA ​​ban this engine as soon as possible in the season”. The hypothesis of introducing an ad hoc regulatory change during the current season is therefore on the table.