The 2026 engine rules increase the reliance on the electrified part of the hybrid powertrain - it will produce 50% of total power - while the expensive Motor Generator Unit–Heat has been ditched.
But initial data supplied to teams led to fears of ‘Frankenstein cars’, with Max Verstappen claiming he was downshifting on straights in simulator runs to compensate for massive power drop offs.
As such, F1 is expected to adopt active front and rear wings for the chassis technical regulations in a bid to reduce drag.
But Wache warns that these quick fixes, with the engine framework dictating car design, must not distract the championship from addressing the deeper-rooted issues.
Speaking exclusively to Autosport about the straight-line capabilities of the next-generation cars, he said: “The speed is going down and the feeling is not so nice. The FIA works with the teams on how this energy will be deployed to make it less annoying for the driver and to have a better speed profile throughout the lap.
“Plus, they also work on the car characteristics to have less drag and less downforce. By having less downforce, you recover more energy because you spend more time in the corners and in the braking zones, and then you spend less time on straights.”
Source: Autosport