Did Mercedes 'trick' decide F1 world title? Verstappen scored more points than Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli is the newly-crowned F1 champion for 2026 but maybe things would have been very different but for some early-season controversy surrounding the sport's new regulations.

Remember all that talk about compression ratios with some teams claiming Mercedes had found a 'trick' to outpace their rivals? We definitely have not forgotten.

Back on June 1, the FIA changed how it measures this due to a 'loophole' exploited by Mercedes, and amazingly the balance of power on the grid started to shift. Since the Monaco Grand Prix on June 7, it is Red Bull's Max Verstappen and not the Italian prodigy Antonelli with the most championship points.

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Compression ratio saga - how it began

Reports first emerged around Christmas 2025 that Mercedes had found a compression ratio 'trick'. The higher the compression ratio, the more efficient the engine, and the more efficient the engine, the greater the power output. Starting this season, engine manufacturers are no longer allowed to exceed a ratio of 16:1, whereas the limit had been 18:1 until 2025.

Initial technical inspections were carried out at ambient temperature - Mercedes developed a system which complied with the prescribed limits during cold measurements but achieved a higher compression ratio when the engine reached its operating temperature on the track. After thorough deliberation, the FIA initially deemed this design legal.

FIA steps in to amend rules

However, F1's governing body later stepped with a rule change starting from the Monaco Grand Prix. The new inspection procedures used hot engine oil heated to 130 degrees Celsius. These checks did not reveal any irregularities, partly because a tolerance limit up to a compression ratio of 16.7:1 was allowed.

Although the FIA formally considered Mercedes’ design legal, the stricter regulations planned for 2027 can be seen as an implicit acknowledgement that the Silver Arrows had pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable. Mercedes has admitted to experimenting with the compression ratio, but maintain they did so within the rules.

What happened after the rule change?

The stats since that change in rules is fascinating - Antonelli won more races in the first six Grands Prix this season than in the last 14. Verstappen meanwhile struggled to finish in the top two early on due to persistent engine issues.

This allowed the young Italian driver to pull away early in the standings. After Monaco, Antonelli led Verstappen by 113 points.

Notably, Verstappen has scored more points than the eventual champion since the compression ratio rules were adjusted - even when excluding their two retirements each after Monaco.

Could the Dutchman have legitimately challenged for a fifth World Championship if the FIA had intervened before the season started?

An intriguing question which will never be answered.

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