Overview
- Ferrari, Audi and Honda have asked the FIA to examine claims that Mercedes and Red Bull are using thermal expansion to raise effective compression beyond the 16:1 limit during running.
- The governing body plans two sessions, including a Power Unit Advisory Committee meeting, to agree procedures for measuring compression ratios on hot engines.
- Toto Wolff insists Mercedes' power unit meets the regulations and says the team has received positive confirmation from the FIA in recent communications.
- Mercedes logged about 500 laps with strong reliability in the closed Barcelona shakedown, though the team cautions that the competitive picture remains uncertain.
- Media analyses estimate any alleged advantage at up to 0.3 seconds per lap, with Bahrain tests on February 11–13 and 18–20 expected to offer clearer evidence.