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Red Bull Says 2026 Engine Meets 16:1 Limit as FIA Plans Jan. 22 Review

Rivals have asked the FIA to clarify whether the cap must be met in operation rather than only at ambient checks.

Overview

  • Red Bull Powertrains director Ben Hodgkinson said the design is legal and was pushed to the very limit of what the rules allow.
  • Audi, Ferrari and Honda have lodged concerns that some units comply in static tests yet run higher effective ratios on track.
  • The FIA’s Article C5.4.3 specifies ambient, stationary checks, while Article C1.5 requires full compliance at all times during competition.
  • Paddock reporting suggests the suspected method involves thermal expansion to raise the effective ratio, with a potential gain of about 10kW.
  • No short-term change to measurement or rules is expected before testing, so any advantage could persist into much of 2026, per current reporting.