The FIA, Formula One Management, teams and engine manufacturers have agreed on revisions to the Technical, Sporting and Financial Regulations for 2027 and 2028, following months of debate over concerns raised by the all-new 2026 power unit formula.
The changes come after discussions that began during the opening rounds of the 2026 season, with drivers and stakeholders raising concerns about energy management demands and the influence of battery deployment under the current rules.
Central to the agreement is a staged move away from the existing 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.
Rather than introducing a full 60/40 balance as early as 2027, as some manufacturers had pushed for, F1 will instead take a two-step approach.
For 2027, internal combustion engine output will rise from 400kW to 420kW, accompanied by a five percent increase in fuel flow. That will move the power balance to 58/42 while avoiding the need for significant hardware redesigns to existing power units.
The final shift will arrive in 2028, when engine output increases further to 450kW and fuel flow rises by 13 percent, delivering the targeted 60/40 split between combustion and electrical power.
Secure your spot today.
Overtake mode will remain unchanged at 350kW throughout the process, while energy harvesting limits will increase from their current levels to 375kW in 2027 and 400kW from 2028.
The compromise follows differing views among manufacturers over how quickly the regulations should be altered.
Mercedes and Red Bull Ford Powertrains were understood to favour a larger reduction in electrical power from 2027, while Audi and Ferrari reportedly had concerns about the resources required and the limited timeframe available to make significant changes.
The FIA said the agreed package is designed to improve the racing product without undermining the objectives of the 2026 rules.
“The proposed changes are intended to address issues related to energy management and fuel energy flow characteristics and make qualifying more flat-out while not impacting the positive and exciting racing generated by the new regulations,” they said.
“The 2026 Formula 1 regulations were developed and agreed in close partnership between the FIA, FOM, teams, OEMs and Power Unit Manufacturers.
“These latest amendments reflect the continuation of this collaboration with all stakeholders working collectively to refine the framework and address identified operational challenges.”
Alongside the technical adjustments, revisions have also been made to the financial regulations to provide manufacturers with additional cost cap flexibility to implement the changes.
The package will now be submitted to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for formal approval at its meeting in Macau on June 23.
Discussion about this post