With the Formula one teams now fully focused on the he new ruleset coming in 2026, much of the early season chatter about the next generation of power units after that has faded away. So concerned were the FIA over the next generation of hybrid monsters over the horizon, the teams were called to a big meeting in Bahrain to discuss the future.

One option offered by the sport’s governing body was to retain the current power units whilst a solution was quickly sort that would see a return of V10 or V8 engines to F1. Yet this was rejected by most the manufacturers who have made a considerable investment in the 2026 power units.

The surprising element of the discussions was the time frame mooted to replace the 2026 power units, with sources reporting the FIA would like to implement them as early as 2028/29. The usual cycle is around five years, although the current breed of engines have survived way past their sell by date.

 

 

 

Concerns over 2026 F1 power

Despite boom times at present for F1, both the FIA president and F1 chief executive have expressed concern over the excessively complex, prohibitively expensive, and — most worryingly — energy-starved new powertrains which may produce racing that’s somewhat farcical. At certain circuits where the energy recovery from braking is low, the cars have been simulated as slowing towards the end of a long straight as the electrical power runs out.

Whilst rejecting the FIA proposals in Bahrain, the manufacturers have agreed to retain the 2026 architecture of the new power units while the FIA is working to complete its ‘catch up’ programme, should one or more fall way behind the leaders in the field.

What is clear, however, is that the FIA has started shaping a longer-term plan. Sources indicate that a new power unit concept for 2029 is already under serious discussion, with the governing body keen to prioritise both sustainability and racing spectacle in its design. Further, the power of the manufacturers is seen as something which should be addressed, given their penchant to use F1 as an R&D high spend workshop to develop road car concepts.

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Complex F1 powertrains add significant weight

Simpler and less expensive engines would be greeted with praise by F1’s customer teams, who may be spending up to 25% of the annual racing budget in acquiring their power units. Further, specialist manufacturers could then enter the sport as Cosworth has done in the past with significant success. The power of the manufacturers must be curtailed, as Stefano Domenicali hinted at when claiming the 2026 power units were formed as part of a ‘political process.’

Formula One’s cars are huge by comparison with their predecessors and their weight has ballooned as though they’ve been on a diet of hamburgers, fries and high sugar soda for the last twenty years. A return to a simpler V8 power unit with a simpler and smaller hybrid will reduce the footprint and weight of the cars, making them nimble and more to the drivers liking.

Toto Wolff recently claimed the new 2026 power could propel an F1 car to the fastest ever recorded speed of 400kph. Although when asked at the team principal’s press conference in Zandvoort, he admitted such was the negativity surrounding 2026 F1 power, he thought he’d find something positive to say on the matter.

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Verstapen mocks 400kph notion

Yet the drivers were universally skeptical about the claim, with champion Max Verstappen making light of the matter. “Maybe Toto’s engine can do that,” he joked. “I think the FIA has already explained that they won’t allow that to happen. On some circuits it will be looked at, so we don’t go too fast.” In fact it became clear in the run up to the Dutch Grand Prix, that the FIA would require the teams to limit the amount of power they produce for both Monaco and Singapore Grand Prix next year.

Nobody knows how the racing will look in 2026 and maybe drivers will be shifting down unnecessarily to generate the required amount of electrical charge. Yet the FIA and FOM appear to be underway with their plans to replace the new monsters of power coming next season. Germany’s Michael Schmidt now claims an agreement has been reached between he FIA and Formula One to begin developing a V8 specification, ironically due in 2029 when Cadillac will become a fully licensed F1 manufacturer.

The 2029 F1 engine specification will be a V8 engine with 2.4litres of displacement along with a smaller and more efficient hybrid component. V8’s were the sport’s iconic sound track from 2006-2013 as the manufacturers pressed on towards delivering power from some 20,000 revs. The FIA eventually restricted them to 19,000 revs before a further cut to 15,000 when the early KERS hybrid systems were introduced.

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Hybrid remains more powerful than in 2025

Of course next season, bio fuel will be the source of all F1 power, with each manufacturer working with their lubricants supplier to develop a specific product for their engines. The new V8’s will also continue with carbon neutral fuel, although Stefano Domenicali is considering whether just one supplier to the entire field is a better way to go.

Schmidt continues to reveal such details as increased efficiency will be target for the V8’s, with the CO2 neutral fuel fired up by a pre-chamber ignition. The combustion engine is to be coupled with a hybrid component that adds 220 to 240 kilowatts of power, hence the electrical component wold be between the power we have now (120kw) and next year’s solution (350kw)

For F1 to be so advanced with its specification for the replacements of the 2026 powertrains is quite remarkable and reflects the lack of confidence that they are going to deliver exciting racing. Further, a simpler cheaper engine for F1 racing would reduce cost to the customer teams and break the power of the engine manufacturers and the grip they hold the sport which at times is excessive.

 

 

 

Norris DNF blows a hole in McLaren ‘neutrality’

There was a hush that fell over the Formula One paddock in Zandvoort, as the reality of Lando Norris DNF sunk in. Lando was just nine points behind his team mate going into the weekend in the Netherlands and a win would have closed the gap to a tantalising two.

With McLaren out of sight in the constructors’ championship, the remaining duel between the McLaren drivers for their maiden F1 title was the main talking point each race weekend. Now with Norris 34 points behind Piastri, the race is all over bar the shouting.

Reliability in the modern era of Formula One is so good, that it’s unlikely Oscar will suffer the same fate as his team mate. This leaves Norris needing to win the next five Grand Prix – assuming his team mate is second each weekend – to get ahead of Piastri and probably two from the remaining four if he were to clinch the championship…. READ MORE