F1 officials and engine makers unite to refine 2026 rules, aiming to ease concerns over performance gaps and dull, fuel-saving races.
Formula 1 is preparing to tweak its 2026 regulations after mounting concerns from teams and engine manufacturers over the direction of the sport’s next big technical reset.
At a pivotal meeting in Bahrain, stakeholders agreed to delay any potential return of V10 engines until at least 2029.
But more urgently, the focus was on the challenges facing the current development path for 2026, particularly with the new hybrid power unit rules.
To address growing concerns, the FIA, teams, and engine suppliers are working on a series of regulatory concessions aimed at smoothing the transition and keeping competition healthy.
While full details remain under wraps, the goal is to avoid scenarios where weaker teams fall too far behind—or where races become overly focused on fuel and energy saving rather than pure racing.
The meeting saw strong representation from across the board: Graeme Lowdon represented Cadillac F1 in person, while Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, Ford’s global motorsport chief Mark Rushbrook, and Mercedes chairman Ola Källenius joined via video call.
According to sources close to the talks, there was clear progress in aligning all parties on a shared vision for the 2026 rules.
Two main issues were top of mind: the risk of a split performance gap between teams, and the fear that races could devolve into fuel-conservation contests, limiting excitement for fans.
While abandoning the 2026 rules was deemed unrealistic, there is now consensus on introducing targeted adjustments to ensure fairness and maintain the spectacle.
These updates are still under discussion but are expected to include mechanisms that help underperforming teams close the gap, as well as possible changes to the sporting regulations to keep racing lively and competitive.
Work on these revisions is ongoing through the usual regulatory channels, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming months.
- Explore Further>F1 Pushes Back V10 Engine Proposal to 2029 – At Best
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F1 Set to Soften 2026 Rules Amid Rising Team Concerns
F1 Set to Soften 2026 Rules Amid Rising Team Concerns