P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull has admitted to taking its new engine design to the “very limit” of Formula 1’s compression ratio rules
Red Bull has taken their new engine design to the limit of Formula 1’s compression ratio rules, asserting its legality despite suspicions from rivals.
The controversy centers on whether Red Bull and Mercedes have found a way to comply with the 16:1 compression ratio limit at ambient temperatures, but run a higher ratio while racing.
There are speculations about potential methods like utilizing thermal expansion for piston advancement, possibly yielding a considerable performance advantage.
The FIA has scheduled a meeting with all manufacturers following queries from Ferrari, Audi, and Honda about rule clarification.
No immediate changes to the regulations are expected, maintaining the potential advantage for Red Bull and Mercedes in the 2026 season.
Red Bull Powertrains’ technical director is confident in the legality of their approach, emphasizing the importance of pushing boundaries for performance gains within the regulated limits.
