Audi urge FIA to clamp down as Mercedes engine loophole rumours grow
Audi Formula 1 boss Mattia Binotto has urged the FIA to rigorously police the 2026 power unit regulations amid growing speculation that rival manufacturers may have discovered a significant engine loophole.
The 2026 season marks Audi’s official arrival in Formula 1 as both a works team and a power unit supplier, following its full takeover of Sauber at the end of 2025. Their debut coincides with one of the most dramatic technical resets in the sport’s history, particularly on the engine side.
Under the new rules, F1 will continue to use 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid engines, but with a radically altered balance of power. Output from the internal combustion engine has been reduced, while electrical energy deployment has been massively increased. The result is an even 50-50 split between combustion and electric power, a shift designed to make Formula 1 more relevant to future road-car technologies.
Another major change is the introduction of fully sustainable fuels, which will be used exclusively from 2026 onward. While these changes promise a greener and more technologically advanced era, they have also opened the door to intense competition — and controversy.
In recent weeks, reports have suggested that Mercedes, and potentially Red Bull Powertrains, may have found a way to exploit a grey area within the new power unit rules. The focus of the rumours centres on engine compression ratios.
According to the claims, the regulations limit the geometric compression ratio to 16:1. However, it has been alleged that certain manufacturers may have developed a system that complies with this limit when the engine is stationary, but allows the ratio to increase to around 18:1 once the car is running. Such an increase could reportedly deliver a performance gain of up to 15 brake horsepower — a sizeable advantage under the tightly controlled 2026 ruleset.
The rumours have prompted concerns among rival power unit suppliers, with reports indicating that manufacturers have asked the FIA to clarify the regulations before the new cars hit the track. The governing body has already confirmed that a meeting will take place to discuss the issue, along with other outstanding regulatory matters ahead of the season.
Despite the noise surrounding the controversy, Binotto struck a measured tone when speaking to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. While acknowledging the potential impact of such a loophole, the former Ferrari team principal emphasised that technical disputes are nothing new in Formula 1.
“I think this is simply part of the battle in Formula 1,” Binotto explained. “It’s part of our job. It would actually be strange if teams weren’t fighting each other over interpretations of the rules.”
Binotto also made clear that, at this stage, the allegations remain unproven. “I don’t know whether it’s true or not,” he said. “Right now, there are only rumours that Mercedes may have designed an engine capable of running at a higher compression ratio under certain conditions. It’s not my responsibility to prove that.”
Ultimately, Binotto believes the matter lies firmly in the hands of the FIA. “The final decision belongs to the governing body,” he added. “That’s why the regulations exist, and why enforcing them is so important. As teams, all we can do is trust the FIA once again.”
When asked about the competitive consequences if the rumours were confirmed, Binotto did not downplay their significance. He admitted that any such advantage would likely have a noticeable effect once the season begins.
“If it’s true, then yes — it would certainly make a difference in performance and lap time,” he said. “That kind of gain would be visible on track when competition starts.”
Audi will be one of five power unit manufacturers competing in Formula 1 from 2026. Mercedes will continue to supply the most teams, powering its own works outfit alongside McLaren, Williams and Alpine. Ferrari will provide engines to Ferrari, Haas and Cadillac, while Honda returns as Aston Martin’s exclusive supplier. Red Bull, meanwhile, will run its own power units in partnership with Ford after ending its long-standing collaboration with Honda.
As the 2026 era approaches, scrutiny of every technical detail is only set to intensify — and the FIA’s handling of this latest engine debate may prove crucial to maintaining a level playing field.
