Formula 1, Sportrik Media – Toto Wolff has warned that Mercedes-AMG Petronas could be “screwed” if a proposed rule change regarding engine compression ratio measurement is approved ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
In recent days, discussions among power unit manufacturers have intensified over a potential revision to how compression ratios are assessed. Under the current regulations, the maximum permitted compression ratio is 16:1 when measured at ambient temperature. However, in theory, that figure could be exceeded during on-track running as engine components expand under heat.
The matter now sits with the Power Unit Advisory Committee (PUAC), comprising Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Honda, and Audi, alongside the governing body FIA and commercial rights holder Formula One Management (FOM). To implement a change requiring compression ratios to be measured while the engine is hot, a supermajority is required: four of the five manufacturers plus both the FIA and FOM.
Red Bull Powertrains is understood to have shifted its position in favour of the revised testing approach. Should the FIA and FOM align with that stance, Mercedes High Performance Powertrains could face scrutiny over its design, potentially placing its 2026 engine concept at risk ahead of the March 1 homologation deadline.
“I think everybody was a little bit too excited about the performance of the Mercedes-powered teams,” Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.
“Our colleagues from the other brands have perhaps gotten carried away to the point where it could become embarrassing, which I don’t believe at all.”
Wolff acknowledged that the final outcome depends heavily on the regulator and commercial rights holder.
“It is not only the teams. You also need the votes from the governing body and the commercial rights holder. If they decide to share an opinion and an agenda, then you are screwed.”
Throughout the design phase, Wolff indicated that Mercedes had operated with the understanding that its interpretation of the regulations was valid, citing prior backing from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“He is the president of the FIA; he has all the power in his hands to be part of the decision-making process, and at the end of the day, it is his call.”
The impending vote introduces significant regulatory uncertainty ahead of the 2026 power unit homologation. Its outcome could shape not only Mercedes’ competitive outlook but also the broader balance of power as Formula 1 enters a new technical era.
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