NEW F1 ENGINE COMPRESSION RATIO MEASUREMENT STARTS TODAY
Starting today, Formula 1 is using a new method to measure engine compression ratios, and the change could matter most for Mercedes-powered cars.
Until now, the FIA checked the engine only at room temperature, meaning a power unit had to respect the 16:1 compression-ratio limit when it was cold and static. The problem is that an F1 engine does not race in that condition.
It races hot, under load, with internal parts expanding and behaving differently. The suspicion around Mercedes was that its engine could pass the cold test, but then gain a higher compression effect once it reached operating temperature.
In simple terms, if parts inside the cylinder head or pre-chamber changed shape or reduced the usable combustion volume when hot, the fuel-air mixture would be squeezed harder than the cold measurement suggested.
That could create stronger combustion, better efficiency and more power without failing the old room-temperature check. This is why Mercedes-powered teams may be negatively affected from June 1.
From now on, the engine must stay within the same 16:1 limit both at room temperature and at 130°C, so any advantage that came from the engine becoming more aggressive when hot would have to be reduced or removed.
That could mean less power, less efficiency, or more conservative engine settings for Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Alpine. It is important to say that this does not prove Mercedes cheated; under the old test, the engine may have been legal. But the rule change closes the grey area that may have allowed Mercedes to benefit from a hot-running compression advantage before June 1.
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