Red Bull plays down pre-test engine row ‘noise’

Jan.19 (GMM) Red Bull Powertrains-Ford technical director Ben Hodgkinson says the growing pre-season focus on alleged engine loopholes is being driven more by rivals’ “nervousness” than substance, as Formula 1 edges closer to its first full 2026 group test.

With the FIA due to meet engine manufacturers this week, Mercedes and Red Bull remain under the spotlight over how the new compression ratio rules are being interpreted.

But Hodgkinson has made clear he sees little reason for alarm.

“I know there’s a lot of media coverage about this,” Hodgkinson said. “I’d rather refrain from commenting further – also because the discussions aren’t over yet.”

Asked directly about the controversy during Red Bull and Ford’s presentation in Detroit, Hodgkinson expanded on that theme, suggesting the attention reflects pre-test anxiety across the paddock.

“I imagine there’s some nervousness among the engine manufacturers that some teams have put a lot of engineering brainpower into this,” he said. “I don’t know how much weight to give to all this talk. I’ve been in this business for quite some time, and most of the time it’s just noise.

“Everyone should concentrate on their own work. I know what we’re doing, and I’m confident that everything we’re doing complies with the regulations.

“Sure, we’re pushing the limits of the rules. And I’d be genuinely surprised if the others weren’t doing the same. But quite honestly, I think all the fuss is much ado about nothing.”

The underlying issue centres on how the FIA measures the reduced 2026 compression ratio. The limit is checked statically at room temperature, while critics argue that thermal expansion under race conditions could yield a tangible advantage.

Former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz believes the stakes are significant. “We’re talking about 10 to 15 horsepower,” he said. “That’s three to four tenths of a second per lap. Even a top driver can’t beat a poor one for that.

“This could decide the World Championship,” he told Kronen Zeitung.

Hodgkinson, however, questioned the premise itself. “As an engine engineer, I say the compression ratio is already set too low,” he said. “We could easily run at 18:1 – the power units would handle it without any problem.

“The manufacturers will all try to achieve 15.999:1 to get everything out of the engine while remaining within the regulations.”

He was also dismissive of claims from Toto Wolff that Red Bull faces an Everest-scale challenge with its first in-house power unit.

“There have been over 14,000 ascents of Mount Everest,” Hodgkinson replied. “So that seems like a manageable task and isn’t a good comparison.”

As for suggestions that Mercedes already holds a decisive engine advantage, Hodgkinson pushed back sharply. “Nobody knows how good the competition is,” he said. “I can imagine they spread that rumour themselves last season to distract from their mediocre season.”

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