Sports

Williams: Rival F1 teams 'pissed off' over Mercedes engine, but it's fully legal

February 11, 2026

Story byMotorsport photoRonald VordingWed, February 11, 2026 at 8:31 AM UTC·4 min readAt the start of winter testing in Bahrain, most discussions in the Formula 1 paddock revolve around two words: compression ratio. Rivals are keeping a close eye on the Mercedes power unit, which complies with the 16:1 limit during static tests, but can achieve a higher ratio while running on track. Audi, Ferrari and Honda immediately asked for clarification in a joint letter to the FIA, with Red Bull’s position understood to be more nuanced than initially thought. It is now up to the FIA to answer the question of whether it wants to adjust the measurement procedures or not — and if so, on what timeframe. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRead Also: Mercedes rivals push for intervention over F1 engine loophole - but how realistic is it?

Williams: Rival F1 teams 'pissed off' over Mercedes engine, but it's fully legal

Credit: Yahoo

Key Highlights

A first step in that process would be the required supermajority in the Power Unit Advisory Committee, with four of the five engine manufacturers as well as the FIA and FOM. However, Vowles makes it clear that he would see such an intervention as completely against the DNA of F1.“My harsh line on it is the PU that we have in the car is completely compliant with the regulations.
It is not a month of work but several years of work to produce the PU to that level.
We, as a sport, have to take care that this is not a BOP series.
This is a meritocracy where the best engineering outcome effectively gets rewarded as a result, not punished as a result,” Vowles told media, including Motorsport. com. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I'm sure other teams are pissed off.
They weren't able to achieve what Mercedes did, but we also need to take care.

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Sport Williams Car Formula 1 Bahrain International Circuit Mercedes

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Williams: Rival F1 teams 'pissed off' over Mercedes engine, but it's fully legal

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Williams: Rival F1 teams 'pissed off' over Mercedes engine, but it's fully legal

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