FIA Calls Urgent 2026 Engine Meeting Over Potential Power Unit Loophole

The FIA is convening an urgent meeting with Formula 1's power unit manufacturers to address a potential loophole in the 2026 regulations that could allow some to gain a significant power advantage. The meeting, scheduled for January 22, aims to clarify differing interpretations of rules regarding engine compression ratios, a critical component of the new power units. This intervention is a last-ditch effort to ensure a level playing field before manufacturers lock in their designs for the new era.

Why it matters:

The 2026 season represents a monumental reset for F1, with new hybrid engines designed to create closer competition and greater sustainability. A perceived technical loophole that grants one or two manufacturers an early, potentially insurmountable advantage would undermine the entire premise of the new regulations. With the homologation deadline just weeks away, the FIA must act now to prevent a season of technical dominance rather than on-track rivalry.

The details:

• The core issue revolves around Article C.5.4.3 of the 2026 Technical Regulations, which caps the engine's geometric compression ratio at 16.0, measured at ambient temperature.
• The concern is that some manufacturers may have designed their engines to meet the 16.0 limit only during this specific test procedure, while being able to run a higher, more powerful ratio during actual on-track conditions.
• Reports suggest Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains are the teams believed to have exploited this grey area, prompting concerns from Ferrari, Honda, and Audi who have reportedly asked the FIA for clarification.
• The meeting of technical experts is scheduled for January 22, just weeks before the March 1 deadline for all manufacturers to homologate their 2026 power unit designs, after which significant changes are restricted.

What's next:

The FIA is expected to issue a technical directive to clarify the measurement procedure and ensure a uniform interpretation of the rules for all competitors. Forcing manufacturers to alter their designs for the 2026 season is highly unlikely at this late stage; any required changes would more probably be mandated for the 2027 season. As a backstop, the sport has introduced ADUO (Assistance for Developing Unit Outliers) regulations, allowing manufacturers that fall behind a certain performance index to develop upgrades during the season to remain competitive.