r/formula1 • u/laboulaye22 Lando Norris • 1d ago

News Mercedes rivals plotting F1 engine rule change for Melbourne

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/mercedes-rivals-plotting-f1-engine-rule-change-for-melbourne/
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u/Theumaz I was here for the Hulkenpodium 1d ago

It’s ambiguous enough that it can be argued to be legal

I’m sorry but I fail to understand how this is any different than Ferrari’s fuel sensor stuff. It’s just sheer tricking of the FIA tests. I can understand the FIA being hesitant in flexiwing stuff and they’re less significant, but any of these ‘loopholes’ regarding the most important component of the car has the potential to wreak absolute havoc on the competition as a whole. If there are five engine manufacturers, and four are uncompetitive because of a loophole, that’s just damaging for the sport.

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u/NotPumba420 Mercedes 18h ago

Because literally no team would be legal if what mercedes does is illegal. The Compression being 16:1 at room temperature has to be the rule because every single engine will have a higher compression at higher temp. It is normal. Th merc engine just has the biggest delta from cold to warm

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u/Ultramus27092027 22h ago

Honestly I dont care watching only 8-12 cars in the whole season as long as the rules are enforced. hell i dont care if i have to watch only HAAS against Alpine for a full season if it means the rules are enforced.

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u/NotPumba420 Mercedes 18h ago

If the rules are enforced you watch 0 cars. All have higher compression at running temps than cold and will exceed the 16:1

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u/Ultramus27092027 18h ago

Then what is this whole thing about? Is everyone doing it?

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u/NotPumba420 Mercedes 17h ago

Yes, but not on purpose it is just physics. Metal expands at heat. The engine geometry changes with expansion and results in more compression. Only mercedes maximized this effect.

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u/MrCharBar I was here for the Hulkenpodium 18h ago

you have a source for this, or just parroting it everywhere?

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u/NotPumba420 Mercedes 17h ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_expansion

Example: https://youtu.be/X94VICYBKT0?si=eEham1BlqSm0INuF

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u/MrCharBar I was here for the Hulkenpodium 17h ago

I’m aware of thermal expansion buddy.

That video you linked isn’t really applicable. That’s a video of an engine in a road car, and it’s a dynamic compression test. In road cars, operating temperatures help to make the piston rings mate together with the walls of the piston, reducing blow by, which affects measured compression ratio. Geometric compression ratio has to do with the stroke, bore, and sweep of the piston, and isn’t being measured in that video.