P1racenews AI automatic summary:
On Thursday, the FIA and engine suppliers met to discuss a clever loophole discovered by Mercedes. Red Bull is now apparently ready to side with Mercedes’ rivals.
Mercedes is facing increasing pressure from rival engine suppliers over a loophole allowing them to achieve an 18:1 compression ratio, exceeding the 16:1 regulation limit, potentially granting them a significant power advantage in the new season. The trick takes advantage of a measurement gap with the FIA conducting checks in ambient conditions, while Mercedes can hit the higher ratio when the power unit reaches operating temperature on the track. Despite being technically legal, this has sparked anger among Mercedes’ rivals, with Ferrari, Audi, and Honda filing complaints and requesting regulatory changes. Recent discussions, including at the Power Unit Advisory Committee, have not resulted in a compromise, with talks focusing on new measurement procedures while engines are running. Red Bull’s stance has added complexity to the situation, initially thought to be aligned with Mercedes but now possibly supporting the opposition, potentially impacting the FIA and F1 decisions under super-majority rules.
