Ex-Ferrari Engineer Calls Mercedes' 2026 Engine 'Legal' Grey Area Exploit

Former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola has dismissed the controversy surrounding Mercedes' 2026 power unit, stating its reported exploitation of a regulatory grey area is not only legal but a display of clever engineering. With the FIA already having approved the design, Mazzola's comments add a significant voice to the discussion, framing the innovation as smart interpretation rather than cheating. The development could hand Mercedes and Red Bull a significant advantage before the new cars even hit the track.

Why it matters:

This situation could define the competitive hierarchy for the start of the 2026 season. A substantial power advantage, even if found through a loophole, is often decisive in Formula 1. Mazzola's defense of the practice highlights the perpetual cat-and-mouse game between teams and regulators, where finding and exploiting grey areas is a celebrated path to victory.

The details:

• The core of the issue lies in Article C5.4.3 of the 2026 technical regulations. It specifies that the procedure to verify the power unit's compression ratio must be executed at "ambient temperature," but it makes no mention of testing under other operating conditions.
• This omission reportedly allows Mercedes and Red Bull to run a different, more aggressive compression ratio when the engine is at full operating temperature, potentially unlocking significant performance.
• Reports suggest this clever interpretation could provide a performance advantage of up to four-tenths of a second per lap, a massive margin in F1.
• Mazzola's take: The former Ferrari engineer was emphatic, stating, "A grey area, by definition, is still a legal area. Credit to whoever manages to spot it and exploit it... I'm not crying 'scandal' — quite the opposite. I say well done, if you’ve managed it."
• The FIA has already homologated Mercedes' power unit, confirming it is fully compliant with the regulations as they are currently written.

What's next:

The onus is now on rival manufacturers like Ferrari to respond. They must either develop their own clever interpretations of the rules or lobby the FIA to close this specific loophole for the future. The controversy underscores the immense technical challenge of the 2026 regulations, where the championship battle is being fought as much in the rulebook as it is on the racetrack.