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.

Engine case, the position of the FIA ​​After receiving a letter from Audi, Honda and Ferrari, the International Federation decided to intervene on the issue of the “trick” of the compression ratio of the power units, which Mercedes would have managed to raise from the measurement of 16:1 when cold to 18:1 in operation. Something that could guarantee the single-seaters powered by the Silver Arrows (McLaren, Mercedes, Williams and Alpine) a significant advantage, even by a few tenths. The FIA ​​has thus decided to call a meeting for tomorrow, Thursday 22 January, to discuss with all the engine manufacturers, after having initially given the OK to the solution studied by Mercedes in recent months. The Federation motivated the meeting with the desire to ensure that the regulation is understood and applied in the same way by all participants. And Audi, Honda and Ferrari are focusing precisely on this, on the violation of the spirit of point 1.5, which underlines how all cars must fully comply with the regulations at all times of the competition. But the regulations also explain in detail the measurement of the compression ratio and it is expressly indicated that it must be measured when cold, with the engine off. In short, a more than thorny case in the hands of the FIA. FIA-engineers meeting, what will be discussed The topics on the table for tomorrow’s discussion were revealed by the Audi F1 operations director, Mattia Binotto, on the sidelines of the presentation of his car.
The Italian engineer explained, without mincing words: “I don’t think that clarity will be clarified or a compromise will be reached. The main objective of the meeting is to continue to discuss how to improve or develop a methodology that can allow the compression ratio to be measured in operating conditions in the future”. Binotto underlined that the topic risks being infinite: “Today we are measuring it cold with the engine disassembled, so to find out if we are compliant we will have to wait until the end of the season. We are all trying together to develop a methodology to measure it in real time with the car running”.
So could there be any official complaints for the Australian Grand Prix? Not really, because Mattia Binotto underlined: “You can protest if you know what you are protesting against”, that is, towards a specific element that violates the rules. And in this intricate case it might not be so simple…