Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said a discussion will be held three years into the next regulation cycle regarding the validity of dropping hybrid power units in favour of internal combustion engines only.
In 2026, F1 is moving toward a greater reliance on the electrical component in its hybrid power units which will see a 50/50 power share with the internal combustion element of the cars.
Moreover, this will see 100% sustainable fuels introduced as Formula 1 strives to meet its net zero carbon emissions target in 2030.
Still, in a bid to make the cars lighter in the future and reintroduce a bit of noise into the F1 spectacle, Domenicali hasn’t ruled out ditching hybrid altogether down the road.
“I do believe that the right way to develop [weight reduction] would be either to stay with this kind of [hybrid] concept, with moves to reduce the weight, or – if sustainable fuel is doing the right job to be zero emission and we are taking the point of sustainability in the right way – maybe we don’t need anymore to be so complicated or so expensive in terms of engine development,” Domenicali told Motorsport.com.
“So we may think to go back to engines that are much lighter and maybe with a good sound.
“I think that this point of discussion will be for sure in the three years after the introduction.
“So in the middle of the new journey, we need to think and see where we are and what we believe the situation is evolving.”
Hybrid engines as they are today were first introduced in 2014, following a period of naturally aspirated internal combustion engines in the 1990s and 2000s.
For those ready to celebrate that high-revving, raucous V8s or V10s are on their way back to the sport in the not-too-distant future, cool your jets as with anything in Formula 1, nothing is set in stone.
Rapidly changing technology necessitates that any discussion around getting rid of hybrid engines in F1 means talks will have to wait for the prescribed three year period into the next regulation cycle, aka 2029.
“One thing that is very important: look back and see how things are changing so rapidly, so quickly,” Domeniclai explained.
“I remember everyone a couple of years ago was saying, ‘Ah, electric cars for everyone, forever’. Now, the handbrake is bigger than going ahead; so we need to be prudent.
“We need to make sure that we are taking the right approach.
“We are in a sport business and therefore I think that we need to take the right decision for our needs and for our sport.”
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