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Horner responds to Mercedes and Red Bull ‘cheating’ allegations
Christian Horner has responded to allegations of ‘cheating’ by Mercedes and Red Bull amid the F1 engine loophole controversy. The controversy revolves around the interpretation of the 2026 engine regulations, specifically the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine. While both teams comply with the 16:1 ratio during static tests, allegations suggest they can achieve a higher ratio while running, potentially gaining up to 0.3 seconds per lap. Concerned rivals like Ferrari, Honda, and Audi have sought clarification from the FIA on the legality of this loophole. Despite a meeting between the manufacturers and the FIA, no agreement was reached on implementing testing to measure compression rates at high temperatures. As of now, Mercedes and Red Bull’s engines are considered legal. Horner defended the teams, stating that F1 is about pushing boundaries and interpreting regulations cleverly for performance gains. Despite his departure from Red Bull in 2025, Horner played a key role in establishing the new Red Bull Powertrains project, which has shown promise with significant mileage in testing. Mercedes, too, has proven strong, completing numerous laps in Barcelona.
