Red Bull Powertrains’ technical director believes they will have a fully compliant engine in 2026, despite rumors about compression ratios.
With a meeting scheduled with the FIA on January 22, Red Bull Powertrains’ [RBPT] technical director Ben Hodgkinson expressed skepticism about the recent rumors suggesting that some power unit manufacturers may have found loopholes to run at a higher compression ratio while still passing FIA checks. He described this speculation as “a lot of noise about nothing.”
Red Bull: F1’s new compression ratio ‘too low’
Recent discussions in the paddock have hinted at potential ambiguities in the new power unit regulations, specifically regarding whether certain manufacturers could run higher than the stipulated compression ratios without violating the rules. The regulation, Article C5.4.3, states that cylinder geometric compression ratios must not exceed 16.0, with measurement procedures that require FIA approval.
Ahead of the homologation deadline on March 1, there’s speculation that some manufacturers may have figured out how to meet the regulations at ambient temperature while achieving higher ratios when on track. Mercedes’ new power unit has been a focal point of these rumors, particularly since it will power three customer teams this season alongside the main team.
Additionally, it’s rumored that Red Bull Powertrains has also leveraged the regulatory wording to gain a potential edge, causing concern among the other manufacturers who fear that a slight increase in compression ratio could yield performance advantages through improved power extraction from fuel. Given the FIA’s control over electrical variables, this advantage could become significant in races.
Ahead of their January meeting, the FIA confirmed they would discuss the implications of the new regulations. An FIA spokesperson stated that these discussions aim to ensure uniform understanding and application of the regulations among all participants.
While Hodgkinson acknowledged the ongoing speculation, he reaffirmed Red Bull’s commitment to operating within legal limits of the regulations: “I know what we’re doing, and I’m confident it’s legal. Every manufacturer should ideally aim for a compression ratio as close to 15.999 as possible.”
With excitement building toward the season, the first Red Bull power unit to race will be utilized in upcoming pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain. Hodgkinson, who has overseen the design of Red Bull’s sixth-generation power unit, noted the continuous potential for improvement within regulations, emphasizing that there is always room for advancement in engine performance.
