Before the 2026 season it has already become a widely debated point: the alleged engine tricks by Mercedes and Red Bull. The two teams are said to have found a loophole that allows them, via a trick, to increase the compression ratio of the power unit. That would reportedly yield more power on track. Andy Cowell, chief strategy officer at Aston Martin, responds to the rumours.
According to Aston Martin boss Andy Cowell, it’s only logical that a particular subject sparks debate right before the start of a new rules cycle. “Every team reads the regulations and tries to push the limits for the performance,” the boss said during the launch event for the new Honda power unit. The Japanese engine manufacturer will, for the first time in 2026, supply engines to the British team.
‘Key factor’
Last December rumours circulated that Mercedes and Red Bull had applied a so‑called ‘trick’ to the compression ratio of their power units. It would reportedly give the two teams three tenths of a second. “Compression ratio is clearly an important factor for the thermal efficiency of an internal combustion engine, so you always try to exploit it to the maximum,” Cowell adds. “I’m certain every power unit manufacturer does that.”
However, the Aston Martin boss trusts the FIA will keep a close watch. The governing body had already announced it would schedule a meeting on the matter on 22 January. “And as has been said many times, it is the FIA’s job to ensure everyone interprets the rules in a fair and equal way,” Cowell concludes. “That’s what is happening right now.”
