One of the biggest stories in Formula One history is brewing following remarkable comments in China from the FI official in charge of day to day affairs in the sport. Nicolas Tombazis revealed there are widespread concerns over the 2026 regulations and the risk of “Frankenstein” monsters appearing on the grid next year is very real.
In summary the FIA has opened the door to scrapping the 2026 new power units despite the tens of millions the manufacturers have spent on their developing over the past eighteen months. A more moderate option was also offered by Tombazis who suggested the five year life span of the new powertrains could be reduced to just two, whilst agreement is found on a return to internal combustion engines with bio fuel which would replace the hated V6 hybrids.
The cost of the highly complex power units is eye watering and a return to V8/V10 technology could slash the cost to customer teams by as much as 75%. “Certainly the progress with sustainable fuels has led to views that maybe the engines could be simpler. The world economy does lead to views that maybe we should try to cut costs a bit more, and the current power units are way too expensive. That is a fact,” Tombazis said.
Sloth like progress on new F1 power units
Of course the new power unit regulations fulfilled one of the FIA’s objectives, too attract new manufacturers, but most of the team’s are experiencing difficulties in delivering the three fold increase in electrical output, which will see a total power output split of 50/50 between the internal combustion engine and the hybrid electrical components.
The process of deciding on the future of F1 power began way back in 2017. The target date for the next generation of engines was set for 2021, which slipped due to the pandemic, then a lack of agreement on the new specifications saw an engine freeze on the development of the current V6 hybrids introduced in 2022 which remains in place today.
Honda decided to remain in F1 when they realised the new focus on electrical power matched their corporate ambitions. The Japanese manufacturer had initially indicated they would be withdrawing from the sport. Audi have confirmed too this was the attraction for them when signing up for 2026 but bench tests are demonstrating the artificial demands for 50% electrical power may in fact be a bridge too far.
The concern first expressed by Christian Horner in 2023 was that to generate the required electrical output would see the internal combustion engine acting at times as merely a generator for the electrical power required. He claimed at certain circuits drivers would be forced to artificially change down a gear to raise the revs of the ICE which in turn would increase the amount of power generated to charge the battery.
“Frankenstein” cars will arrive in F1
Esteban Ocon appeared to confirm this problem exists when asked about the talk of a quick return to V10 power in a couple of years. The French driver explained that “clipping “ has been a problem in the simulations of the new power units, this is where the car is restricted from travelling at top speed while the engine is creating electricity. Ocon suggests the options of the 2026 power units being normally aspirated was not considered despite a number of hyper cars demonstrating this technology could be fast and green.
“Nobody thought about having a naturally aspirated engine with a hybrid system like they do in some road cars—for example the Valkyrie or the LaFerrari back then. It was more of a KERS system that they had in. But we could be running a naturally aspirated engine—V6, V8, whatever—even a five-cylinder would sound great.”
The lack of traditional noise of an F1 engine was also addressed, a criticism of the V6 turbo hybrids made as early as pre-season testing in 2014, the year they were adopted by the sport. “The issue is the turbo. That’s what takes the sound away out of the car. So yeah, I mean, it’s not for now anyway, because the next regulation is obviously fixed on that side. “
“There have been a lot of issues with the straight-line speed [of the new 50/50 2026 PU’s] and where the engines were clipping etc. I’m sure it’s going to be a lot closer than that from where it is now.”
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Sainz: “I don’t like what I see”
Carlos Sainz weighed in with his two penneth when asked for his thoughts in the new hybrid engines coming in 2026. “I don’t really like what I see from 2026 in terms of what the car is going to do, the engine’s going to do, the way everything is going to work.” The Spaniard goes on to note that this topic of the failing 2026 power units is of genuine concern given that “everyone seems to believe that they are not so good anymore—that’s why everyone’s talking about it again. So a bit of a strange one, no? Let’s see where it goes. It’s not up to me. It’s politics. The big bosses will decide.”
Due to the wide concern being expressed, the FIA have called a meeting this weekend in Bahrain where the five power unit manufacturers will be free to express their views on the state of play. Suggestions have been made by veteran F1 journalist Michael Schmidt that a compromise may be found by reducing the electrical component to 30/70 or even 20/80 to save the face of F1 from embarrassment.
Back in 2023 Christian Horner had suggested the ratio of electrical power was too high when he noted: “We still have two and a half years and I think if there is a slight redress it would then create potentially a better platform for the chassis. Because otherwise the chassis regs that are undefined yet and uncommitted, we’re going to be trying to cater for those compromises.
“I think you’ve got to look at the thing holistically from both a technical point of view but the most important thing is: what is Formula 1? And Formula 1 needs to be wheel-to-wheel racing. We can’t afford to lose that challenge [and have] drivers downshifting on straights to regenerate batteries. So I know the FIA are taking it very seriously, and they’re looking at it very closely as the simulations become more advanced.”
Red Bull predicted the power unit problems
The Red Bull boss back then offered a potential solution by “increasing the amount of power generated by the conventional engine to 60% of the total would be sufficient.” Horner was belittled at the tie bye Toto Wolff who claimed his comets were driven from the fact that Red Bull had no experience in building F1 engines.
“I think what frightens him more is maybe that his engine programmes is not coming along and maybe he wants to kill it that way,” said the Mercedes boss. “So you always have to question what’s the real motivation to say something like that.” Well it seems Horner was right and indeed this bodes well for the Red Bull incursion into F1 eyeing building. If he and the Milton Keynes team had analysed a problem the rest had not even considered at the time, it would indicate that Red Bull may well be ahead of the curve on their 2026 power unit development.
Given this topic is even being discussed demojavrses there is a serious problem with the 2026 regulations in their current form. Ferrari and Red Bull are in favour of a quick return to V8/V10’s. Mercedes are open to the idea, but Audi explained last week the very reason they joined F1 was due to the challenge of the electrical aspect of the F1 powertrains.
Honda could well have the deciding vote, given just four of the five manufactures signed up for 2026 are needed to for the FIA to reconfigure the specifications for next season.
McLaren bizarre admission about their 2025 car
In the cooler temperatures of Suzuka and with a new smooth resurfaced track, F1 fans were treated to a rare occasion where the drivers were pushing flat out for most of the Grand Prix. Surprisingly, McLaren were unable to demonstrate their incremental pace over Red Bull as Max Verstappen drove the perfect weekend claiming pole and his third win over the last seven races.
Prior to F1’s visit to Japan, the talk in the paddock was focused on around how far ahead of the field were McLaren. With wins in the first two Grand Prix of 2025 and a 1-2 in China, the Woking based team were riding high on the road to the land of the rising sun.
Lando Norris claimed after pre-season testing that McLaren had “no excuses” this year as they seek to build on their constructors’ championship success and admits the MCL39 is the quickest car in the current field… READ MORE
16.06.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 9, Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal, Canada, Practice Day.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Typical judge remark “dead man walking” looking through all this report gives me a sense of Anti Hamilton
Judge13 youre actually an inbred.
Wtf is wrong with you why are you so obsessed with Hamilton, constantly writing negative and unfactual propaganda about him.
Are you autistic? Because youre freakin obsessed and a pathetic angry little man.
You know nothing about F1, you know nothing about journalism, you know nothing about being honourable. Youre an utterly miserable bitter lonely useless underachiever that spends hours of his useless time hating someone thats done nothing to him.
Youre going to die alone and Hamilton will go down as the greatest driver in history and everyone knows it so suck on that.