Overview
- At the team’s Detroit launch, powertrains chief Ben Hodgkinson said Red Bull’s 2026 unit complies with the rules and was engineered to the limit.
- Rivals suspect Red Bull and Mercedes are exploiting thermal expansion to exceed a 16:1 compression ratio during running while passing ambient static checks.
- FIA rules specify compression checks at ambient temperature, while another clause requires cars to comply at all times, highlighting a potential interpretive gap.
- Audi, Ferrari and Honda have asked the FIA to clarify the issue, and Mercedes has not publicly commented on the allegation.
- Red Bull’s RB22 is scheduled for a private shakedown in Barcelona from January 26 to 30 as its Ford‑backed 2026 programme continues.