Lewis Hamilton has called on the FIA to address concerns surrounding potential advantages gained by Mercedes through the compression ratio of their power units, as pre-season testing continues in Bahrain. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion, now driving for Ferrari, raised the issue after the first day of testing at the Sakhir circuit.
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari after a long and successful period with Mercedes, acknowledged the challenging conditions at the track, describing the car’s handling as “sliding around on the top of the tyres.” However, he quickly pivoted to the competitive landscape, specifically questioning whether Mercedes was benefiting from a technical advantage. “There are whispers of extra power they have that the rest of us don’t – the compression ratio sort of thing,” he stated.
The Briton emphasized the need for the FIA, the sport’s governing body, to ensure a level playing field. “So hopefully that gets sorted. And the FIA seize care of that and make sure we’re all starting on an even playing field,” he said.
Hamilton’s comments come amid a broader push from several teams for the FIA to investigate the matter. While Mercedes and team principal Toto Wolff have reportedly contested the allegations, the FIA is facing increasing pressure to clarify the regulations. Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single seater director, recently stated the organization is working to resolve the issues before the start of the season. “We’ve spent a lot of time discussing how we solve those issues, and our intention is of course to solve them for the start of the season,” Tombazis said. “We don’t want to have controversies, we want people to be competing on the track – not in the courtroom or in the stewards room. And that’s what we try to do.”
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari set the fastest time on the second day of testing, with reigning champion Lando Norris of McLaren finishing close behind. Hamilton, however, remained cautious about drawing conclusions from the early lap times. “Impossible to know at the moment,” he said. “I hope we’re in the mix. I think we all seem quite close — apart from Mercedes.” He similarly alluded to potential discrepancies in fuel loads, adding another layer of uncertainty to the pre-season assessments.
Lewis Hamilton currently holds the record for most Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles, tied with Michael Schumacher at seven, and boasts 105 wins and 104 pole positions, according to Formula 1’s official website. He began his Formula One career with McLaren in 2007 and subsequently moved to Mercedes, where he achieved the majority of his success before joining Ferrari in 2026.