The FIA ​​has closed another potential loophole in the Formula 1 power unit rules for the 2026 season.

Amid the row over engine compression ratios, with Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Honda and Audi considering filing complaints, it has emerged that teams are also investigating the gray area surrounding fuel consumption measurement.

In 2026, Formula 1 will switch to completely environmentally friendly fuel for the first time in its history. Due to the increasing role of the electrical component, an energy limit of 3000 MJ/hour was introduced instead of a current limit of 100 kg/hour.

In this context, the FIA ​​is introducing a single standard ultrasonic measuring device from Allengra that will be installed on all cars and transmit the same data to both teams and the regulator.

However, there were signs that some teams were trying to control or influence the temperature of this sensor. In theory, this could allow measurement sensitivity to be varied or different fuel compositions to be analyzed with potential performance benefits.

Originally the regulation only prohibited “deliberate heating or cooling of the flow meter”. Now the wording has been tightened even more: any device, system or procedure whose purpose is to change the temperature of the fuel meter is prohibited.

Charles Leclerc says he cannot give Lewis Hamilton any advice that would help the seven-time champion improve his results at Ferrari.

The British driver joined the Italian team in January after a successful 12-year period at Mercedes. However, he was off the pace throughout the 2025 season and was consistently outclassed by Leclerc, who took all seven podiums for Ferrari that year.

“My job is to make the most of what I can control,” LeClair said.

I’m already focused on a lot of things for myself and the team, and I’m trying to adapt my style to the car. Therefore, it is also difficult to waste time helping Lewis. Moreover, he achieved much more than me. “I don’t have any advice to give him.”

Leclerc emphasized that joining a new team is a big challenge for any driver.

“Joining a new team is always a long process. I’ve been at Ferrari for seven years, everything comes naturally to me, but for Lewis it’s still new even after a year. The processes are completely different; the way the team works, the vision of the project, the way of working. It takes time to get used to it.”

Every Formula 1 team faces the problem of excess weight in the new generation of cars that will debut in the 2026 season. AutoRacer reports this.

According to the source, some teams currently exceed the established minimum weight by more than 15 kilograms. At the same time, according to the new regulations on paper, the cars were supposed to be 30 kg lighter, but the reality turned out to be different, mainly due to significantly heavier power plants.

Each extra 10kg on an F1 car costs around 0.3-0.35 seconds per lap and 15kg costs around 0.45-0.55 seconds. In today’s realities this can mean the difference between pole position and qualifying and an early exit to Q3.

New engines that received an increased electrical component significantly complicated the task of engineers. As a result, teams are forced to look for replacements in other chassis components to compensate for the excess weight.

To reduce the weight of vehicles, teams are actively introducing modern materials and technologies. In particular, lightweight carbon elements, carbon-titanium suspensions and other engineering solutions are used to optimize the design. Despite this, the problem of overweight remains a common headache for the entire peloton on the eve of radical changes to the rules.