The riot about the alleged motorcycle trick of Mercedes currently has the Formula 1 world in its grip. Mercedes has found a clever loophole in the law, but the other manufacturers say this is illegal. Red Bull was also initially accused of this trick, but now it seems that they have played a completely different role in this case.
This year there are new engine and aerodynamic rules in Formula 1. It means that every team has practically started from scratch, and the engine manufacturers don’t know how good they really are. Mercedes was seen as the favorite early on, and they lived up to that role during the test week in Barcelona.
The Mercedes case
On the Catalan circuit they drove fast times and managed to complete many laps. In the meantime, something else was going on in the background, as Mercedes was accused of using a trick with the engine’s compression ratios. This would ensure that they have more horsepower, and therefore have an edge over the competition. At Mercedes they are sure that their engine is legal, and it seems that they would still pass the FIA inspection.
What is Red Bull’s position?
The other engine manufacturers would be angry because they believe that Mercedes is breaking the rules. In recent days there have been many rumors going around about this matter, also because the other manufacturers are pushing for a rule change. Red Bull is also said to have now joined Audi, Ferrari not Honda, and that is striking. After all, according to the first reports, Red Bull would also like to use this trick. They are said to have been introduced to this path by a former Mercedes employee, but have not yet mastered the trick.
Did Red Bull leak the information about Mercedes?
According to journalist Julianne Cerasoli, the fork is inserted into the stem slightly differently. In a message on X she states that Red Bull has been on the side of the other manufacturers since the beginning. According to her, Red Bull was the first team to discover Mercedes’ trick, and they tried to copy it. This failed, and then they allegedly ‘leaked’ it to the other manufacturers.
It is not clear whether this means that Red Bull got the ball rolling on purpose. However, the matter seems far from over, while Mercedes is convinced of their right. The case is expected to continue until the start of the season in Australia in a month’s time.
The information I was working with since the first meeting was that Red Bull Powertrains would vote with Audi, Ferrari and Honda on the engine bid.
Even though they knew what Mercedes were doing, they couldn’t replicate it. And they informed the others. This is how the story leaked. https://t.co/RyQj96SGz3— Julianne Cerasoli (@jucerasoli) February 6, 2026
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