Although 2026 is only the first year of the current cycle, discussions about Formula 1’s future engine regulations are already taking place behind the scenes. Several tweaks have been agreed for the current ruleset, next year the balance will shift to 60-40 in favour of the combustion engine, and in the longer term the paddock increasingly appears open to more significant changes.
That became clear when F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali spoke to Autosport during the April break. The Italian explained that the FIA and F1 have allowed OEMs too much influence for the current cycle, and added that the future will probably look different – potentially with a V8 running on sustainable fuels and a smaller electrical component.
