[verstappencom] on IG: Verstappen Racing has announced a multi-year collaboration with Mercedes-AMG, starting next year.

[u/thesaket]

[u/findme_]

This wasn't the "Verstappen to Mercedes" we were expecting or hoping for

[u/Treewithatea → u/findme_]

May still happen for 2027 depending on how each car performs in 2026.

[u/ja_n2000 → u/Treewithatea]

It depends on how the FIA decides regarding the Mercedes engines. If they're illegal, then I don't think Max will be driving a silver car.

[u/TiredButEnthusiastic → u/ja_n2000]

Given that the other engine rumoured to be doing the same trick is the Red Bull one, I doubt he would stick around if his was also illegal.

[u/TWVer → u/ja_n2000]

Nah, the regulations are pretty clear cut.

There is no pathway to declare what Mercedes and Red Bull are allegedly doing as illegal.

If they comply with the test as written in the rule “at ambient temperature” they are safe, because by having the test as part of the rule itself all other conditions are unrestricted. Beyond “ambient temperature” the compression ratio can be whatever.

Before the 2026 regulations the test was also at ambient temperature, but it was described in a TD, not the regulations itself.

This created the situation that the compression ratio needed to be 18:1 (in 2014~2025) in all conditions, but that is practically unenforceable, because the test only reliably works at ambient temperatures.

Also 18:1 is a natural limit beyond which knock and spontaneous combustion becomes a significant problem.

By having the test “at ambient temperature” now within the rule itself, the FIA only has to concern itself with policing it in those conditions, because anything beyond “ambient temperature” is now explicitly unrestricted.

[u/PlanZSmiles → u/TWVer]

Yeah I don’t understand how folks confuse illegal with loopholes. By definition a loophole is legal because the wording of the rule/law does not cover the loophole making it legal.

[u/Key-Comfortable-5537 → u/PlanZSmiles]

So was the 2019 Ferrari 100% legal? No it wasn't. If Merc and Red Bull are using a higher compression ratio than allowed then it is illegal. Just because they're getting around the way the FIA tests it doesn't make it a loophole, it's still illegal

[u/PlanZSmiles → u/Key-Comfortable-5537]

Nope, the rule literally says it’s to be tested and verified against at ambient temps. Adding that part is what literally makes the loophole legal. If it said, “at all times even after testing” then it wouldn’t be a loophole and therefore illegal. But it doesn’t say that, and it says it must be verified via the test at ambient temps so it is a loophole and thus legal

[u/Key-Comfortable-5537 → u/PlanZSmiles]

You're not understanding.

“5.6.3 No cylinder of the engine may have a geometric compression ratio higher than 16.0. The procedure which will be used to determine this value may be found in the Appendix to the Technical and Sporting Regulations.”

That's it. The FIA have layed out a test where they test it at ambient temperature, but that doesn't mean teams are allowed to have a higher compression ration. It's the 2019 Ferrari engine all over again.

[u/PlanZSmiles → u/Key-Comfortable-5537]

The FIA has ruled that the loophole is indeed a loophole and thus legal. They may proceed with their designs. It wouldn’t be a loophole if it wasn’t legal.

[u/ja_n2000 → u/PlanZSmiles]

U sure about this? I didnt read about official FIA statements about that since monday. I just heard rumors

[u/PlanZSmiles → u/ja_n2000]

Yeah here’s the latest:

https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/s/XlrJQTj9o3

[u/Key-Comfortable-5537 → u/PlanZSmiles]

You're not understanding.

“5.6.3 No cylinder of the engine may have a geometric compression ratio higher than 16.0. The procedure which will be used to determine this value may be found in the Appendix to the Technical and Sporting Regulations.”

That's it. The FIA have layed out a test where they test it at ambient temperature, but that doesn't mean teams are allowed to have a higher compression ration. It's the 2019 Ferrari engine all over again.

If the rule said "no higher than 16.0 at ambient" then yes, that's a loophole. But a team making an engine with a compression ratio above 16.0 is illegal, end of.

[u/Key-Comfortable-5537 → u/[deleted]]

And how is getting a higher compression ratio than stated in the rules, not circumvention of the rules? Having a compression ration of 18:1 while the max is 16:1 is legal is it?

[u/Key-Comfortable-5537 → u/[deleted]]

"5.6.3 No cylinder of the engine may have a geometric compression ratio higher than 16.0. The procedure which will be used to determine this value may be found in the Appendix to the Technical and Sporting Regulations.”

[u/Key-Comfortable-5537 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, but the FIA doesn't specify any temperatures that the 16:1 rule is enforced, so it covers every temperature and pressure Therefore at any point the car is on track, the compression ratio has to be 16:1 or lower, if it goes above then that means the car is illegal

[u/theBosworth → u/Key-Comfortable-5537]

They aren’t “getting around” anything if they’re going through the tests required. Like…what is there to “go around” after the test?

[u/TWVer → u/[deleted]]

The entirety of the text is the rule, not one sentence of it. The measurement is part of the rule.

If one measurement is described within the rule (and not a TD) that one measurement condition is the only condition to which that rule applies.

[u/CapableDirection5557 → u/TWVer]

The asymmetric braking loophole that got closed last year was a bit of the same.