Honda unveiled its RA626H PU and new logo in Tokyo on Tuesday
Honda has made it clear that it hopes that the FIA will address the compression ratio controversy that is set to overshadow the start of the F1 season.
Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains are believed to have found a loophole that allows them their new PUs at a more favourable compression ratio on track than the 16:1 limit prescribed by the rules and which is measured at ambient temperature.
Honda, Ferrari and Audi have expressed their concerns to the FIA, and the matter is set to be discussed by the governing body and the manufacturers in a meeting this week.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 F1 power unit in Tokyo on Tuesday Honda president Toshihiro Mibe indicated that the company is relying on the FIA to address the situation.
“Regulations do not have everything listed very clearly, bit-by-bit,” he said. “So in the new regulations, we look into the possibility of the new technology for each of the different power units. There is a lot of room for interpretation as well, and this is also part of the race.
“So for the FIA, it’s up to them to decide on whether it’s good or bad, so they have to take on it. For Honda, we have a lot of different ideas, and we would like to discuss with the FIA to understand if our ideas are accepted or are not okay.
“So I think that’s how we’re going to proceed. So we would always look to the FIA to consult them on regulation related matters.”
Aston Martin F1 team chief strategy officer Andy Cowell – whose former HPP colleagues are responsible for both the Mercedes and RBP/Ford projects – also put the onus on the FIA.
“The topic of compression ratio, there’s always a topic that bubbles up when new regulations come into place,” he said. “And every competitor reads the regulations and pushes performance to the limit.
“Compression ratio is clearly a key thermal efficiency enabling aspect of an internal combustion engine, so you always push it to the limit. So I’m sure every single power unit manufacturer is doing that.
“And as mentioned, the FIA have the job to make sure that everybody interprets the regulations in a fair and equal way. Which is what’s ongoing at the moment.”
HRC president Koji Watanabe was circumspect: “There are a lot of factors that need to come in discussion. So there’s more to it. So we would like to keep that aside for now, but then we want to make it clear that we want to meet and comply to the regulations.”
Adam Cooper F1 