F1’s car makers are currently working on the design of the new turbo-hybrid power units that will come into play from 2026.
While the basic formula of the 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid ICE will remain the same, the power balance between combustion and electrical energy will shift.
F1 is doing away with the MGU-H, and is aiming for a straight 50/50 power split between batteries and the ICE.
The changes will require all-new engine designs, and that has opened the door for Audi and Red Bull Powertrains to join the field as suppliers – ramping up competition on the grid.
But as work progresses on the power units, the FIA has intriguingly issued amendments to the 2026 engine rules that have closed off any scope for manufacturers gaining an illicit advantage through the use of fuel partners – whose input is essential to maximising potential with the new designs.
Changes to the regulations have clamped down on the potential for fuel suppliers to do engine bench testing with a full V6, which would have fallen outside restrictions that manufacturers themselves have to comply with.
Source: Autosport