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Mercedes’ rivals have succeeded in securing a rule change following a pre-season technical row over engine performance.

Audi, Ferrari, Red Bull and Honda had been pushing for a change in the regulation governing compression ratios on the basis they believed Mercedes had secured an advantage through clever use of materials technology.

Formula 1’s governing body the FIA said on Saturday that a change to the way the compression ratio was measured would be introduced on 1 June, with a further revision for the 2027 season.

A statement said the rule change had been approved unanimously by all power-unit manufacturers.

The compression ratio is a measurement of the cylinder displacement between the two extremes of the piston stroke. Typically, an increase will lead to more power.

Some estimates of the gain Mercedes could be achieving have been as much as 0.3 seconds a lap, but Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has said it amounts to “a few horsepower – in England you would say a couple, which is more like two and three”.

The original rule stated the ratio would be limited to 16:1 in the new engine rules introduced this year – a change from 18:1 under the previous regulations – and this was measured at ambient temperature.

Mercedes’ rivals were pushing for the compression ratio to be measured at operating temperature.

The Mercedes engine has been measured by the FIA at both ambient and operating temperature and complied with the limit of 16:1 at all times, senior F1 insiders have told BBC Sport.

Compression ratios tend to decrease as an engine rises in temperature because of thermal expansion of the materials involved. The belief was Mercedes had found a more effective way to limit this loss than other manufacturers.

From 1 June, the compression ratio will be measured at 130C as well as ambient temperature, and from next year only at 130C.

That means that from next year, manufacturers will be able to have engines that exceed a compression ratio of 16:1 at ambient temperature, even though this reduction from the previous limit was introduced into the 2026 regulations to make the rules more appealing to new manufacturers.

Audi and Ford both entered F1 because they were attracted by the new power-unit rules, which introduce a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, and Honda reversed a decision to quit.

A statement from the FIA said: “A significant effort has been invested in finding a solution to the topic of compression ratio.

“The regulations introduced for 2026 represent one of the biggest changes in recent memory.

“All parties acknowledge that with the introduction of such significant regulatory changes, there are collective learnings to be taken from pre-season testing and the initial rounds of the 2026 championship.

“Further evaluation and technical checks on energy management matters are ongoing.”

This last sentence is a reference to discussions over energy deployment and recovery.

Drivers have complained that because cars are energy starved this has led to unusual and counter-intuitive driving techniques – and there are various proposals to change the rules to make energy management easier.

THE Cotswolds is already a great place to visit, but nearby is a farm that parents are raving about as a great day out,

Millets Farm opened back in 1952, originally as a dairy farm.

Now, the farm is home to multiple attractions including a play barn, Maize Maze and Farmyard Golf.

The attraction is split into pre-booked activities and no pre-booking required activities.

For example, you could head off on the Millets Animal Walkway, where visitors will see a number of farm animals including goats, chickens, rabbits, horses, birds and alpacas.

The play area also doesn’t need pre-booking and has a mix of swings, slides, climbing frames and more.

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There are also token-operated ride-on tractors, diggers and a crane which little ones can go on.

One token costs £1.75, three tokens cost £4.50 and five tokens cost £6.

If the weather isn’t rainy, you can also check out the 10 acre Phoebe Wood, where there are a number of woodland walks.

There are then several activities you have to book ahead for, such as Sprouts Play Barn with a four-lane wavy cow slide, 360 tunnel, a ‘mini Millets farmers market’ with seven soft role-play areas, a sports court and an area for under five-year-olds.

One recent visitor said: “This has to be the best soft play in Oxfordshire, it’s absolutely huge and offers a great variety of activities and play equipment for a wide age range.

“There’s a little baby area at the front, and then lots of fun for bigger kids on the higher levels.”

Another visitor added: “The soft play was the best we have ever been to (and we have been to A LOT).

“Every section was clean, looked brand new and so well thought out.

“It’s huge with four floors and the under fives section is also the biggest I’ve seen.”

Included in the Sprouts admission tickets, you also get access to the outdoor play area which has slides, beams and water play.

There’s also an 18-hole farm themed adventure golf course that you can book.

If you want something that is a little bit more of a thrill, head on the carousel, Ferris Wheel or Jungle Thriller, which all cost £3 a turn.

However, at the moment only the carousel is open until the spring, when other attractions at the park will reopen.

The attraction also hosts a number of events, such as Phil’s Magic Mania Show and Tweedy’s Massive Circus.

There are a number of seasonal events at the farm as well, such as pick your own flowers.

Visitors can explore around 8000 dahlias planted around a bright pink double-decker bus during the summer months.

The site also has a big garden centre, that sells items for both gardeners and non-gardeners.

One recent visitor said: “Such a delightful garden centre to wander around.

“They have everything you can imagine, for any budget. Even a cafe if you need a little break.

“I could have spent all afternoon there.”

When it comes to eating, the attraction has several spots to grab a bite.

For example, there is The Farmhouse Kitchen Restaurant which has both indoor and outdoor seating.

If you fancy an ice cream, head to the Snack Shack.

There there’s also The Food at Webbs restaurant, which can be found inside the garden centre and offers homemade meals.

And if you want to make your stay a bit longer or more special, then head to Wellness at Millets for a beauty treatment.

For more UK farms with family activities, here are six UK farm stays inspired by Clarkson’s Farm from remote cottages to Highland cow petting.

Plus, the English campsite named best farm attraction in the UK reveals new kid’s playground and glamping.

With a palace, a castle and ancient volcano all within visiting distance of each other – it’s no wonder this Scottish city has been voted as the UK’s number for a break

The UK’s best city break has been revealed, and it’s famous for its beautiful buildings, historic castle, and even Harry Potter links.

From historic streets, to cultural spectacles, to iconic landmarks, scenic views or vibrant food scenes, the UK has a fantastic range of amazing cities for travellers to choose from but Sykes Cottages has revealed some of the highlights across the nation after a study revealed that 49 per cent of Brits choose cities for their top five breaks.

Edinburgh, which is also hailed as the UK’s most walkable city, took the top spot in the rankings. This bright and bustling city seamlessly combines the historic and the modern with Edinburgh Castle, one of the oldest fortified places in Europe, and Holyrood Palace, the official Scottish residence of the monarch originally built as an Abbey in 1128 connected by the Royal Mile, the historic spine of Edinburgh’s Old Town and the city’s world-famous Fringe Festival, one of the greatest celebrations of modern art and culture in the world.

As well as hosting the Fringe, Edinburgh is also the city where J.K Rowling lived when she was writing the Harry Potter books and people can visit The Elephant House café which is where the legendary wizard was first created.

There’s a wide array of accommodation too whether you’re looking for cosy holiday cottages or cheap hotels, although it’s worth noting that some popular seasons such as the Fringe can see prices surge in some areas.

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Sykes Cottages offers a wide range of handpicked holiday homes across the UK and Ireland, from cosy countryside retreats to stunning coastal escapes. Prices start from £27 per night

For major Harry Potter enthusiasts, the city also offers a Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour which allows people to explore Edinburgh through the lens of Harry Potter.

With storytelling, the written word and art and culture playing such a prominent part in the city, its contributions were recognised in 2004 when it became the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature.

Visitors can wander through the city’s cobbled streets and take in its incredible architecture and street designs, or hike up to Arthur’s Seat and enjoy the amazing views from atop the ancient volcano.

Calton Hill is also a must visit and is included in the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. The panoramic skyline views from the hill are renowned and pictures taken from there are regularly used in photographs or paintings of the city. The hill features the neoclassical landmarks including the National Monument, Nelson’s Monument and the Dugald Stewart Monument.

One reviewer of the city said: “Absolutely love Edinburgh, amazing city! So many gorgeous restaurants and cafes, lots of different vibes but I love the laid-back café culture Edinburgh does so well. Arthur’s Seat is great to climb and has gorgeous views across the city.”

Another said: “Edinburgh is a fantastic place to visit – the Royal Mile and the Castle are definitely worth a visit and there are some spectacular bars and restaurants that we thoroughly enjoyed.”

Do you think Edinburgh is the UK’s best city break? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

A massive fire has broken out at a bazaar in western Tehran, authorities say, sending thick plumes of black smoke over the Iranian capital.

The cause of the blaze on Tuesday morning was not immediately unclear.

The fire has “so far resulted in no injuries”, Tehran emergency services operations commander Mohammad Behnia said.

The blaze started at a market in the Jannat Abad neighbourhood in the west of the capital, an area packed with stalls and shops, state television quoted the city’s fire department as saying.

“The fire is extensive, to the extent that it is visible from various parts of Tehran,” Fire Department spokesman Jalal Maleki said.

Maleki later said the blaze had been “brought under control” and that “smoke removal and spot-check operations” were under way, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

State television said firefighters were dispatched to the site immediately to contain the blaze.

The executions are part of broader crackdown by Beijing on centres across Southeast Asia, which are built on an industrial scale and hunt scam victims across the globe, as well as running kidnapping, prostitution and drugs rackets.

China has executed four people found guilty of causing six Chinese citizens’ deaths and running scam and gambling operations out of Myanmar worth more than $4bn.

The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in southern China announced the executions on Monday morning in a statement. However, the timing of the executions was not clear.

The executions of 11 other people convicted of running scam centres in Myanmar had been announced last week.

The Shenzhen court sentenced five people accused of running a network of scam centres and casinos to death in November. One of the defendants, group leader Bai Suocheng, died of illness before the sentence was carried out.

The group had established industrial parks in Myanmar’s Kokang region bordering China, from where they allegedly ran gambling and telecom scam operations involving abductions, extortion, forced prostitution, and drug manufacturing and trafficking.

They defrauded victims of more than 29 billion yuan ($4.2bn) and caused the deaths of six Chinese citizens and injuries to others, the court said.

Their crimes “were exceptionally heinous, with particularly serious circumstances and consequences, posing a tremendous threat to society”, the court’s statement said.

The defendants appealed the verdict, but the Guangdong Provincial High People’s Court dismissed their applications, it added.

The executions are part of a broader crackdown by Beijing on scam operations in Southeast Asia, where scam parks have become an industrial-scale business, especially in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

A mix of trafficked and willing labour has carried out digital scams on victims around the world, including thousands of Chinese citizens.

Authorities in the region face growing international pressure from China, the United States and other nations to address the proliferation of crime.

Experts say most of the centres are run by Chinese-led crime syndicates working with Myanmar armed groups, taking advantage of the country’s instability amid the ongoing war.

Myanmar’s military government has long been accused of turning a blind eye, but it has trumpeted a crackdown over the last year after being lobbied by key military backer China, experts say.

In October, more than 2,000 people were arrested in a raid on KK Park, an infamous scam centre on Myanmar’s border with Thailand.

However, some raids mounted by the government have been part of a propaganda effort, according to monitors, choreographed to vent pressure from Beijing without denting profits that enrich the military’s militia allies.

FROM the Italian Grand Prix to Fashion Week, the city of Milan is popular with the rich and famous.

Yet it has a much more affordable side, such as three-night easyJet city break packages from £220pp.

Here’s how to easily spend a long weekend in the Italian hotspot . . . 

WHY SHOULD I GO?

Milan is set to be even more popular in 2026 as it is co-hosting the Winter Olympics from February 6-22.

A new 16,000-seat multi-use arena has been built in the Santa Giulia district to host the ice hockey, and Mariah Carey will entertain at the opening ceremony in the San Siro Stadium, home of Inter Milan.

But whatever time of year, it is one of the most affordable destinations to jet to from the UK, with flights often found for less than £17.

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Foodies can rejoice too — it’s hard to find somewhere bad to eat, especially with its famous dishes such as Milanese risotto and panettone.

STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?

With its blend of Gothic architecture and modern, cosmopolitan design, the city is one of Europe’s most walkable and the streets are worth a relaxed stroll even with no aim in sight.

The cobblestone ones of the Brera neighbourhood are particularly charming.

Of course, if you want to get around there are trams as well as a vast metro system.

Skip the taxis as you can expect to pay high costs for short journeys.

Instead, hop on one of the many bikes and scooters you can rent, found on most corners — if you’re brave enough to join the road with Italian drivers.

ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST?

Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the world’s oldest shopping centres.

Dating back to 1877, the stunning piece of history is now lined with designer stores and well worth walking through.

If you want some good luck, legend has it you should find the bull on the floor and spin around on it three times.

Just outside is the Gothic masterpiece, Duomo di Milano, one of the world’s largest Catholic churches.

Built of white-pink marble, it features 135 spires and more than 4,000 statues.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT?

Despite being the home of the Milanese saffron risotto, you can barely walk for pizza joints.

Head to Pizza AM for crazy artwork and massive spicy pizzas that come with a free prosecco.

You’ll have to squeeze in as it’s loved by both families and groups of friends, but the bustle just makes it all that more of a vibe.

For something fun to go, try Ghe Sem Monti right by the main train station.

With a fusion of Asian dim sum and classic Italian flavours, I couldn’t pick my favourite from the cacio e pepe dumplings to the ­carbonara buns.

I FANCY A DRINK!

One of the best, local-loved bars is on a side street off the Navigli canal, a popular neighbourhood for dining.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside you’ll find mismatching pieces of artwork along with bottles of alcohol towering up the walls and a rude lucky cat.

The staff are happy to help you choose a wine with tasters, from reds and whites to rosés and oranges from all across Spain.

Interior fans should try Bar Luce, designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson.

Grab a glass of Prosecco while taking in the pastel pink and blue interiors, before a game on one of the retro pinball machines.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

A short tram ride from the city centre, Hotel Nasco feels pure Italian: Faux ­marble bathrooms, tiny lifts to the top floor and complimentary Aperol in the room.

Its location in relation to both the attractions and the train station makes it a great base.

Breakfast, in the basement of the building, is a simple affair, but has all of the hot and cold classics, from pastries and fruit to a selection of English Breakfast options.

Just remember to bring ear plugs — like lots of Italian buildings, the walls are slightly thin.