P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari ‘start work’ on copy of Mercedes’ power unit trick
The Ferrari F1 team has reportedly started working on replicating a strategy similar to the controversial one used by Mercedes ahead of the 2026 season-opener. This move comes after Mercedes allegedly found a loophole to gain a significant power advantage with a higher compression ratio, prompting concerns from Ferrari, Audi, and Honda. Despite new regulations setting the compression ratio at 16:1, Mercedes may have discovered a way to exceed this limit, potentially boosting performance by up to 0.3 seconds per lap. The FIA is now considering new methods to measure compression ratios amidst the ongoing controversy. Meanwhile, Ferrari is said to be following Mercedes’ lead, as they believe the trick may be deemed legal by the FIA. The 2026 F1 season is set to begin with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8, following pre-season tests in Bahrain starting on February 11.
