F1 urgently changed the rules for the 2026 season. Teams found a gray area

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.