P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andy Cowell was the director of Mercedes High Performance Powertrains during the development of the turbo hybrids in 2014.
Former Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell has shared his reaction to the alleged compression ratio trick developed by the team. Mercedes High Performance Powertrains reportedly created a solution to run a higher compression ratio for the new 2026 engines, exceeding the maximum 16:1 limit set by the rules. The ratio can currently only be measured in the pit-lane at ambient temperatures, creating a potential performance boost of 0.3s per lap. Discussions are ongoing, with a crucial engine meeting scheduled for January 22nd between manufacturers and the FIA to address the issue. Cowell emphasized the significance of compression ratio in thermal efficiency for internal combustion engines and highlighted the competitive nature of interpreting regulations to push performance limits. He underlined the FIA’s responsibility to ensure fair and equal competition among all power unit manufacturers.
