F1 misses the point of hybrid future – Formula One will enter a new future in 2026, with its beefed up hybrid power units where the electrical output is 50% of the total horsepower. The battery element will produce some 350kw almost three times of the current units first introduced in 2014.
Whilst the statistics prove that hybrid technology is now dominant in the global auto industry, it was intended to be a transitional technology as the consumers were educated away from traditional internal combustion engines.
The latest ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) data reveals that across the first ten months of 2025, hybrid electrical vehicles were the most popular tyre of power as chosen by the consumers as plug in hybrids (PHEV) gained further momentum.
Hybrid popular choice in Europe
Of all the new car registrations in the EU block, 34.6 were HEV whilst 16.4% were Battery Electric Vehicles. In total, these amount to 60% of the market. In Romania, HEV (which includes PHEVs) are 49.1% of the market, while the solely battery-powered vehicles (BEV) are for now just 5.3%.
Many consumers used to traditional internal combustion engine power have what is known as ‘range anxiety’ when switching to battery only cars. Their concern is whether they will have enough charge to make it to the next charging destination before they run out of battery.
A hybrid gives these customers the confidence that should their batteries run dry, they have a fall back on the traditional ICE they have known since they started driving. Yet hybrids are in effect a compromise, with the car carrying both the weight of an ICE plus the battery technology for the hybrid.
In the US which has a gas guzzling culture of big block engines which drive their huge pick up trucks, hybrids are particularly popular as the price of ‘gas’ has been on the rise since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The hybrid efficiency numbers are at their best for vehicles which can plug in, giving them more battery range than non-plug in hybrids gain from regenerative braking technology.
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F1 ahead of the game in 2014
Yet these numbers are rarely attained, given the amount of time charging for hybrids is far below that for pure electrical vehicles. Once the hybrid is being used only to generate its own electrical power, the efficiency of the cars on fuel collapses to below that of a pure ICE vehicle.
Formula One was ahead of the game in 2014 when it introduced its V6 hybrid powertrains, but this was due to the influence of the auto manufacturers who used the sport as a proving ground for their coming road car technology. Now twelve years on, retaining hybrid power in F1 is a result of further manufacturer influence. Although on the roads hybrids will be banned in Europe from 2035.
The journey from conception to production of the 2026 F1 power units has been long and arduous, as the FIA first setup a working party to discuss the future of F1 power in 2017. The pandemic set back the introduction of new powertrains even further and so the FIA decided to freeze development of the current un its from 2022 onwards.
Whilst the expectations for the increase in battery only cars has been reduced, in terms of zero emissions it is the only future available of manufacturers and consumers alike on the horizon. And despite F1 appearing to be behind the times committing to another probable five years of hybrid power, the solution to the 2bn internal combustion engine vehicles on the planet lies elsewhere in the 2026 F1 revolution.
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Sustainable fuels the solution to global auto emissions
Each of the hybrid power unit suppliers is working with a global petrochemicals producer to deliver 100% sustainable fuels. As a solution to the enormous stock of combustion engine vehicles currently around the world, this will have far more impact if made widely available to road car users, than hybrid could ever hope to be.
That time is a long way off at the moment, as the cost of a litre of F1 fuel is set to rise from $30 to around $300 as a number of reports have recently revealed. One manufacturer is experimenting with synthetically produced net zero fuel, while the rest will run on organically produced fuel to power their hybrids.
As F1 supremo Stefano Domenicali together with FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem have jointly indicated, F1 hybrids are already a thing of the past and the next generation of F1 power may return to V8 technology.
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F1 regrets new 2026 hybrids
Speaking in 2024 as the FIA revealed its final specifications for the 2026 hybrid units, Domenicali suggested it was the influence of the manufacturers who pushed the new hybrid F1 solutions through. “My personal opinion is that it would be sufficient to use climate-neutral fuel,” he told Auto Motor und Sport. “However, we had to take the manufacturers’ wishes into account.
“Things have developed so quickly that today a decision might be different from two years ago. I am not an engineer, but I must have a vision of what the sport will look like in the future. I can imagine that with the next regulations, we could limit ourselves to sustainable fuel. If we are able to show that we produce zero emissions with it, we can focus on other important aspects of sustainability.”
In terms of efficiency, hybrid power units are far inferior to electric when comparing the percentage of energy stored converted in to motion. And non-plug in hybrids struggle to justify the extra weight of the battery element at all.
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F1 return to ICE slashes costs
As the arduous next round of discussions begin over the future of F1 power, both the president of the FIA and the CEO of F1 have indicated, the manufacturers will have less say and hybrid will be a thing of the past.
“When you say V8, you have Ferrari, you have Mercedes, you have Audi, you have the Americans like GM. So then what is our mission? It is to drop costs. The current engines cost $1.8 to $2.1million. So imagine engines that cost one quarter of this and are one quarter less complicated,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem when questioned over the future of F1 power beyond the current cycle.
Further, the hybrid elements on the next specification of F1 cars is believed to be a massive 80kg. The long term goals of the FIA is to make F1 cars smaller, lighter and more nimble again which means hybrids will thankfully for many become a thing of the past.
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The end of an F1 dynasty was finally complete following the 2025 Formula One season finale in Abu Dhabi. The triumvirate of leaders who had shaped the ashes of the Jaguar F1 programme into a perennial front running championship team have now all left Red Bull Racing.
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A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
