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In a stunning reversal of strategy, Ferrari has reportedly begun working on emulating Mercedes' contested power unit advantage, just weeks after joining rival manufacturers in lodging a formal complaint with the FIA. The Scuderia's decision marks a seismic shift in F1's 2026 engine controversy, transforming what many expected to be a straightforward regulatory dispute into a high-stakes game of technical poker ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
According to renowned Italian sports journalist Leo Turrini, Ferrari's power unit technical director Enrico Gualtieri has already started work on substantial modifications designed to replicate the dynamic compression ratio approach pioneered by Mercedes. This development would have seemed unthinkable just days ago when Ferrari co-authored a joint letter with Honda and Audi demanding FIA intervention—yet the logic behind this pragmatic gamble reveals much about the political machinery of Formula 1.
To comprehend Ferrari's reversal, it's essential to understand what Mercedes has actually achieved. The 2026 regulations mandate a compression ratio of 16:1 for power unit engines, a deliberate reduction from the previous cycle's 18:1 threshold as part of F1's broader shift toward hybrid-electric power units. However, Mercedes has reportedly discovered a method to achieve a compression ratio much closer to 18:1 by running their engine at elevated temperatures during actual racing conditions.
The loophole exploits a critical procedural weakness: the FIA currently measures compression ratios only during static tests with cold engines, meaning Mercedes' power units pass all regulatory checks while potentially delivering substantially higher performance on track. This technique could yield a performance advantage of up to 0.3 seconds per lap—a margin that could prove decisive across a 24-race championship.
Mercedes' rivals didn't take this development lightly. Ferrari, Audi, and Honda formally protested to the FIA, with the matter escalating through the Power Unit Advisor Committee (PUAC) for resolution before the season opener. The controversy threatened to overshadow 2026's technical reset and create the possibility of protests at the Australian Grand Prix or even Court of Appeal hearings.
Yet according to reporting, Red Bull has reportedly shifted its stance after initially supporting opposition to the technique, complicating the regulatory landscape considerably. For any rule change to be implemented immediately, the FIA would need backing from four of five engine manufacturers plus FIA and FOM leadership—a coalition that appears increasingly fragile.
Ferrari's decision to pursue the compression ratio modification despite having protested against it seems counterintuitive—until examining the political calculus. According to Turrini, Ferrari's engine department leadership authorized Gualtieri's work because they believe FIA single seater director Nikolas Tombazis will ultimately declare the Mercedes trick entirely legal.
This assessment isn't unreasonable. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has steadfastly maintained the power unit's compliance with regulations as written, and FIA representatives at the February 6th PUAC meeting reportedly defended the technical choices already enshrined in the regulations. The FIA has also expressed a desire to keep this matter out of the courtroom while seeking resolution before the season begins.
Rather than risk the 2026 season running under regulations they interpret as legitimizing such techniques, Ferrari appears to be hedging its bets—if the Mercedes approach is deemed legal (as many suspect), the Scuderia wants to ensure it isn't left without this competitive advantage.
The technical regulations allow until March 1 for engine homologation, giving Ferrari, Mercedes, and other manufacturers precious weeks to finalize their power units. This timeline places immense pressure on the FIA to resolve the compression ratio question definitively before teams lock in their designs.
The 2026 season begins with the first pre-season test in Bahrain this week (February 11-13), followed by a second test February 18-20, providing crucial data on whether the compression ratio modifications genuinely deliver the suspected performance advantages on track.
What appeared to be a clear-cut regulatory violation at the start of 2026's pre-season has instead revealed the complex interplay between technical regulations, procedural loopholes, and political expediency that defines modern Formula 1. Whether Ferrari's pivot proves prescient or premature will likely determine the championship's competitive balance for years to come.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.