The F1 season may have already been decided long before the first car hits the track. The FIA will allow Mercedes and Red Bull to use their controversial engines for the 2026 season.

The F1 compression ratio was changed from 18.0:1 to 16.0:1 for 2026. Red Bull and Mercedes have found a legal loophole. While the engine is at ambient temperature, it meets requirements. When the engine is hot, it will expand, allowing for more power. 

The estimated power boost is between 0.2 and 0.4 seconds per lap. This doesn’t sound like much, but it equals 11.6-23.2 seconds quicker over the race distance for Australia. 

F1 is an engineering series, and many forget that. Mercedes and Red Bull have won at the factory three months before the green flag drops. Expect Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, Williams, Alpine, and RB to be major players in 2026. 

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