Red Bull: “We are on the verge of regulations. But I’m sure it’s legal.”

Red Bull engine director Ben Hodginson has commented on rumors of a possible loophole in the 2026 Formula 1 rules, stating that the team is operating on the verge of legality.

The Milton Keynes-based team is starting a new era in powertrain production with Ford in 2026, after ending its partnership with Honda. The new rules involve a complete reboot of engine regulations, giving a greater role to electric power and the use of sustainable combustion engine fuels.

There were rumors during the winter break that both Red Bull and Mercedes had found a loophole in the 2026 regulations regarding the geometric compression ratio. Other manufacturers, notably Audi, Honda and Ferrari, have asked the FIA ​​to clarify this aspect of the rules. A meeting is planned between the FIA ​​and Formula 1 Management to discuss possible loopholes and other regulation changes.

According to the information obtained, the alleged gap is related to the geometric compression ratio of the engines, which will decrease from 18:1 to 16:1 in 2026. Rumor has it that Red Bull and Mercedes have discovered a method that allows the compression ratio to remain at 16:1 when static, but increase to 18:1 during laps, which could add around 15 hp. and improve lap times.

Hodgkinson assured that the new Red Bull engine was legal, but the team, like others, was pushing it to its limits:

“I think there is some tension between the various powertrain manufacturers that there may be demanding engineering practices on some of the teams.” he said.

“To be honest, I’m not quite sure how much I’m going to listen to this. I’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s almost just noise. You really have to do your best in your own race.”

“I know what we’re doing, and I’m confident that what we’re doing is legal. Of course, we’ve reached the limit of what the rules allow. I’d be surprised if everyone didn’t do it.”

“To be honest, I don’t think it’s a big deal. I expect everyone to sit at 16, that’s really what I expect.”

The first pre-season testing will take place on January 26 in a five-day event at the Barcelona-Catalonia circuit.