Cadillac team boss Grim Loudon has said the team will use a fully legal engine for the 2026 season, following controversy over Mercedes’ engine cheating allegations.

During the winter months, Mercedes, and possibly Red Bull, reportedly found a way to increase the engine compression ratio above the new 16:1 limit while the cars were on track. Moreover, during measurements made in boxes at normal temperatures, turning the compression to 16:1 provided an increase in power. At the Melbourne round it was estimated that this time could go up to 0.3 seconds per lap, or up to 17.4 seconds over the 58-lap circuit.

The new player in the championship, Cadillac, will be a customer of Ferrari and the team has already run the engine at Silverstone.

“I am very pleased and confident that we have a completely legal engine,” Loudon said.

“In these engines, combustion is not allowed to occur at a compression ratio of more than 16 to 1.
Without going into detail, we know that Ferrari complies fully with the rules and this gives us great confidence.

We work and support our engine partner at the maximum level in terms of performance. We are extremely pleased with the cooperation.

I can’t speak for other people’s engines or how others interpret the rules. But for me everything is extremely clear; everything is black and white.”

I have worked with Ferrari many times before; they are great partners. This is a legendary name in Formula 1. “All the people on this team are true racers, and we’re excited to welcome them to the Cadillac team.”

Formula 1’s first pre-season tests before the 2026 season start on Monday, January 26, at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.

Due to the introduction of new regulations regarding powertrains and active aerodynamics, this year’s testing program starts earlier than usual ahead of the season’s opening race in Melbourne.

Instead of one three-day test, there will be three separate testing sessions before the Australian Grand Prix. The first of these will be a five-day closed test in Barcelona.

Testing will take place from January 26 to 30, but each team will only be allowed to practice on three of the five days.

While McLaren and Ferrari confirmed that they will not be on the track on the first day of testing, Williams will miss the Barcelona session completely after its decision to withdraw.

Daily races will take place between 10:00 and 18:00 Kyiv time. If weather conditions are suitable, work on the runway may be extended for another hour.

Pirelli has revealed which tire sets the teams have chosen in the first pre-season test to be held in Barcelona from 26-30 January.

All teams will be able to use hard (C1), medium (C2), soft (C3), medium and rain tires. In the early days of testing, each team received a different number of kits to create their own plan.

Red Bull relied on soft tyres; They bought 18 sets plus one medium and one not even hard tires. Ferrari, which tested the SF-26 last week, chose the most intermediate ones – a set of 12. Mercedes took the hardest ones – 8 sets, and McLaren – 6 soft, 10 medium and 4 hard.

We would like to remind you that Williams Racing will not participate in testing in Barcelona.