The FIA has sought to cool worries surrounding the 2026 Formula 1 power unit, stating that there is no “disaster scenario” that teams should concern themselves with.
In 2026 F1 is set to see a major technical overhaul, with a renewed focus on the power units that has encouraged the likes of Honda, Ford and Audi to enter the series.
The MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit – Heat) component shall be removed, whilst the 1.6 litre V6 turbocharged internal combustion engine (ICE) element from the current regulations will be retained (and shall run on 100% sustainable fuels), along with the MGU-K electrical system (Kinetic Motor Generator Unit), which shall provide nearly triple the electrical power output compared to the electrical components in the current regulations (350kW in 2026/ 120 kW currently).
F1 teams had previously expressed concerns after simulation runs showed issues with energy recovery on straights, but the FIA believes this won’t be an overriding concern.
“Clearly if you put this new engine onto the current car, then it will run out of energy on the straight,” FIA Single Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis told select media.
“It will start degrading the speed which is what led to certain comments a few months ago and various disaster scenarios.
“We never believed that was a disaster scenario because we knew that there were solutions.
“We have now completed all the simulations we need to do for that.
“So cars won’t be reaching the top speed in the middle of the street and then degrading or anything like that, that’s not going to be the case.
“Cars are still being designed to exercise the driver to the maximum.”
Tombazis also held the opinion that the concern of the F1 teams was “premature” and despite a reduction in power from the ICE element in 2026, F1 cars will have more power overall in the new set of regulations.
“We have worked on the energy side of the car,” Tombazis added.
“Clearly, we have a lower power ICE engine, for 2026, we will go from about 550-560 kilowatts to about 400. But we go from about 150 to 350 kilowatts on the electrical part.
“So the overall power of the car is going to be increased a bit.”
F1 power units are a key focus of the 2026 regulations and the series’ push to achieve a net zero carbon footprint by 2030.
As well as the power units, there is a focus on making the cars lighter and smaller to improve racing.
In theory, increased hybridisation and the possibility of active aero could see F1 cars run with a smaller fuel tank, aiding in the cause to reduce the size and mass of the vehicle.
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