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A key meeting is set for January 22 amid Ferrari, Honda and Audi’s plea to ban Mercedes’ new thermal V6 engine for breaching 2026 rules.
Mercedes AMG’s boss Toto Wolff (X)
Ferrari are in no way letting Mercedes fly under the radar peacefully in 2026 — and the season has not even begun.
Amid the ever-growing engine controversy involving Mercedes, a high-stakes meeting between the FIA and engine manufacturers is scheduled for January 22, with rivals demanding urgent action over Mercedes’ new thermal V6 engine.
According to Corriere dello SportFerrari, Honda and Audi are pushing for the engine to be banned as early as possible during the season, arguing it breaches the spirit, if not the letter, of the new rules.
At the heart of the dispute is engine compression. While the 2026 regulations cap compression at 16:1, reports suggest Mercedes’ design may exceed that limit once the engine is running, even though it remains compliant when measured cold — the current testing standard.
Initially, the FIA approved Mercedes’ solution after being briefed on the design. But that stance is now under heavy pressure following a formal letter from three rival manufacturers.
The governing body is reportedly considering allowing the engine only temporarily or even introducing a mid-season rule change, a rare and controversial move.
The paddock though is split.
Mercedes, backed by customer teams McLaren, Williams and Alpine, insist their engine is legal and within the framework approved by the FIA.
On the other side, Ferrari (and its partners Haas and Cadillac), Honda (Aston Martin), and Audi argue that the concept delivers an unfair performance advantage and undermines the intent of the regulations.
Red Bull, meanwhile, have stayed conspicuously neutral. The Milton Keynes outfit, now under Laurent Mekies, has not replicated Mercedes’ solution and appears keen to avoid the political warfare that defined previous regulation cycles. While Red Bull want clarity, they are reportedly unconcerned about their own power unit’s legality.
With the 2026 world championship fast approaching, the FIA faces an unenviable decision: protect innovation or clamp down on perceived loopholes.
January 09, 2026, 8:10 PM IST
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