Adrian Newey ‘furious’ as McLaren P…read more
Tension is quietly building behind the scenes in Formula 1 as the countdown to the 2026 regulation reset accelerates, with Adrian Newey reportedly left deeply frustrated by the FIA’s latest ruling on a controversial engine interpretation. The decision has already sent ripples through the paddock, reigniting fears that the next era of F1 could begin with a competitive imbalance before a single race is even run.
The controversy centres on a perceived loophole within the 2026 power unit regulations — a grey area that Mercedes and Red Bull are believed to have interpreted more aggressively than their rivals. According to paddock sources, the advantage unlocked by this interpretation could be worth as much as three-tenths of a second per lap, a margin that would be enormous under the tightly controlled ruleset arriving in 2026.
Despite strong objections from Ferrari, Audi and Honda, the FIA has ruled that the interpretation falls within the boundaries of legality. A high-level meeting was held on Thursday to address concerns raised by rival manufacturers, but the governing body ultimately decided not to intervene, effectively giving Mercedes and Red Bull the green light to continue development in that direction.
For Adrian Newey, now spearheading Aston Martin’s technical push into the new era, the ruling is understood to have landed particularly badly. Newey, widely regarded as the most influential designer in modern F1 history, is said to be “furious” with the outcome, viewing it as a failure to close a loophole that could define the competitive order for years to come.
Those close to the situation suggest Newey believes the FIA missed a crucial opportunity to ensure a truly level playing field ahead of the biggest technical reset since 2014. With Aston Martin investing heavily in infrastructure, personnel and long-term ambition, any early disadvantage under the new rules could prove costly — not just in performance, but in morale and momentum.
The ruling has also revived broader concerns about F1’s ability to police regulation grey areas before they become entrenched. Once development paths are locked in, history suggests it becomes extremely difficult — politically and technically — to roll them back without controversy.
While the political storm brews, attention has also turned back to the track, where pre-season preparations are slowly ramping up. McLaren, despite missing the opening day of private testing in Barcelona, have provided fans with a first glimpse of their 2026 testing livery.
The Woking-based team unveiled the design via social media, offering a subtle teaser of what lies ahead even as their new car remains absent from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Team principal Andrea Stella had already confirmed that McLaren would not run on the opening day of the five-day private shakedown, explaining that the team had opted for a more cautious rollout schedule.
Stella indicated last week that McLaren’s car is expected to hit the track on either the second or third day of running, prioritising preparation and system checks over rushing into early mileage. With the 2026 ruleset representing a clean-sheet design challenge, teams are balancing the need for early data against the risks of reliability issues and incomplete development.
The Barcelona shakedown is the first of several key milestones on the road to the new season. After this week’s private running, teams will shift their focus to Bahrain, where two separate three-day pre-season tests are scheduled for February at the Bahrain International Circuit. These sessions are expected to provide the first meaningful performance indicators under the new regulations.
As testing unfolds, the combination of regulatory tension and on-track secrecy is already setting the tone for what promises to be a politically charged and fiercely competitive build-up to 2026. With heavyweights like Newey openly disillusioned and rivals watching Mercedes and Red Bull closely, Formula 1’s next era is shaping up to be contentious long before lights out
