Red Bull is convinced its 2026 Formula 1 power unit fully complies with the regulations, despite recent uproar over the permitted compression ratio. Rival teams accused the Austrians of using ‘engine tricks’ that pushed the ratios higher and thereby increased the unit’s output. Ben Hodgkinson, director of Red Bull Powertrains, says the commotion is wildly overblown.
In recent weeks the controversy flared after several engine manufacturers voiced suspicions that Mercedes and Red Bull were using tricks to raise the compression ratio. In static engine tests the ratio met the standard 16:1, but during running it could allegedly be higher because of special components that expand at high temperatures. Audi, Ferrari and Honda raised the issue with the FIA, which put it on the agenda for a meeting with technical experts.
Hodgkinson, however, remains utterly calm amid the row. “I think there’s a bit of nervousness among some manufacturers, because some teams might be applying clever technical tricks,” he told the media ahead of Red Bull’s season launch in Detroit. “To be honest, I’m not sure how much stock to put in that. I’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s mostly noise. You just have to focus on your own racing.”
‘Much Ado About Nothing’
The Brit stresses that Red Bull is not doing anything illegal. “I know what we’re doing, and I’m confident that what we’re doing is legal,” he said emphatically. “Of course we’ve pushed the engine right to the limit, to the edge of what the regulations allow. I’d be surprised if not everyone did that. In my view it’s all much ado about nothing.” The debate centres on different interpretations of the technical regulations. FIA checks are currently carried out only on static engines at ambient temperature, a point Red Bull and Mercedes lean on. Rivals, however, argue the limit should also apply while the car is running.
Hodgkinson is also critical of the lowered compression-ratio limit itself. “From a purely technical standpoint the compression-ratio limit is too low,” he explained. “We have the technology to make combustion happen fast enough, so the compression ratio is far too low.” According to the Brit the limit could have been set higher. “With the combustion speed we’ve achieved, we could realise a compression ratio of 18:1. That means there’s gain to be had in every tenth of a ratio. In that respect every manufacturer should really be aiming for a ratio of 15.999, provided they dare to measure it.”
