Audi’s protest over Mercedes engine ‘trick’ appears futile

Audi entered F1 with a championship ambition, but its in‑house power unit already lags behind Mercedes. The team has lodged a protest, claiming Mercedes uses a prohibited “compression‑ratio trick” that boosts performance, even though the FIA has already homologated the engine.

Why it matters:

• Competitive balance – A hidden power boost could widen the gap between Mercedes and rivals, undermining the sport’s parity.
• Sponsor confidence – Publicly challenging the dominant engine supplier signals Audi’s commitment to fairness, reassuring backers.

The details:

• The alleged trick – Mercedes allegedly employs software‑controlled mapping to effectively raise its compression ratio without violating the rule’s literal text.
• FIA oversight – The regulator monitored the engine’s development and granted full homologation before the 2026 season, making a reversal unlikely.
• Audi’s position – Without concrete technical evidence, Audi’s protest is largely symbolic, aimed at drawing attention to a perceived loophole.

What's next:

• Power‑unit race – Audi’s engineers will keep analyzing Mercedes’ solution, hoping to replicate or improve it for their own engine.
• Regulation outlook – Unless the FIA revises the compression‑ratio rule, the current gap will stay, and Audi’s protest will fade into the season’s background.