F1 | Andy Cowell questions Mercedes power unit advantage under 2026 rules. Andy Cowell has cast doubt on the alleged Mercedes power unit advantage for 2026.

Andy Cowell not convinced by Mercedes advantage: “Every manufacturer pushes to the limit”

Cowell has questioned the alleged advantage of Mercedes power units compared to their rivals.

Former Mercedes HPP Managing Director Andy Cowell has cast doubt on whether the solution developed by the Brackley team for its power unit truly delivers a significant advantage over its competitors. In recent days, confirmation arrived that the FIA will not ban the Silver Arrows’ engine, or at least will not do so immediately.

Cowell, now Chief Strategy Officer at Aston Martin, worked for many years as the supervisor of the Mercedes High Performance Powertrains division. He enjoyed enormous success, particularly during the period of dominance by the German team from 2014 to 2021, when Mercedes secured eight consecutive Constructors’ World Championships.

Now that he has moved to Aston Martin, Cowell is in an ideal position to give his view on the first major controversy of the 2026 regulations, namely the engine compression ratios. According to the FIA’s decision, the permitted ratio has been reduced to 16:1 from the previous 18:1, in order to lower engine power, improve reliability and level the playing field for everyone.

However, it appears that Mercedes, like Red Bull, may have found a loophole in the new regulations, allegedly designing power units that comply with the limits when cold, but exceed them on track when operating at temperature. Thanks to this “trick”, which for now has been deemed legal by the FIA, it is said that the team may have unlocked up to three tenths of a second per lap, a potentially decisive advantage.

Cowell believes the controversy is simply part of modern Formula 1, representing a familiar topic of discussion and debate that emerges at the start of every new regulatory cycle.

The words of Cowell

Speaking about the controversial 2026 engine situation that has placed Mercedes under the spotlight, Andy Cowell shared his views during the launch of the Aston Martin and Honda partnership for 2026.

“The topic of compression ratio is always something that comes up when new regulations are introduced,” the British engineer said. “And every competitor reads the regulations and pushes performance to the limit.”

The 56-year-old expressed understanding for Mercedes’ innovative approach, while warning that the FIA will closely monitor the outcomes.

“The compression ratio is clearly a key aspect of the thermal efficiency of an internal combustion engine, so it is always pushed to the limit.”

“I am sure that every single power unit manufacturer is doing this. However, the FIA has the task of ensuring that everyone interprets the regulations in a fair and impartial way,” he concluded.