F1
What will actually change on F1 engines in 2026?
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In 2026, the Formula 1 Formula 1 is about to undergo one of the most profound revolutions in its modern history. The cars will be completely redesigned, and with them, their power units. Gone are the days of predominantly internal combustion engines: the pinnacle of motorsport is resolutely embracing the times. In a move towards sustainability, F1 is adopting engines with equal proportions of internal combustion and electric power, with the stated objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
This transformation also responds to a need for industrial relevance, as the global automotive industry shifts massively towards electrification. This strategic shift has already borne fruit: Audi, Ford, and Cadillac will join the grid as early as 2026, proof of Formula 1's attractiveness to major manufacturers.
Introduced in 2014, hybrid V6 engines will remain the basis of the single-seaters in 2026. However, their components will evolve radically. From now on, the battery will become a central element of performance and strategy.
For over a decade, the power units combined an internal combustion engine with two electric systems. The MGU-K, responsible for recovering energy during braking, and the MGU-H, which utilized the heat generated by the internal combustion engine. This hybrid component accounted for approximately 18% of the total power, or nearly 160 horsepower, compared to approximately 800 horsepower (82%) for the internal combustion engine.
At that time, a battery problem, although serious, wasn't necessarily a deal-breaker. At the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo He lost nearly 20% of his power following an electrical failure. Yet he still won the race, securing one of the greatest victories of his career.
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The 2026 engine
This tolerance is now a thing of the past. In 2026, with an equal power distribution between the combustion engine and the electric motor, the slightest battery failure could prove fatal. The combustion engine will deliver approximately 540 horsepower, while the MGU-K and the battery will provide up to 470 horsepower. To achieve such a level of electric power, the battery will need to be constantly recharged. Whereas in 2025 the cars recovered approximately 2 MJ of energy per lap, this figure will be multiplied by more than four by 2026.
Another major change is the removal of the MGU-H. Deemed too complex and excessively expensive, this component has been completely eliminated. Braking will thus become the only way to recharge the battery. This will force drivers to adapt their race strategy and braking approach.
Fossil fuels will also be phased out. Formula 1 will introduce a sustainable fuel, produced in a laboratory from organic waste or through carbon capture from the atmosphere. This innovation goes beyond the realm of sport and could eventually find practical applications in the global automotive industry.
As with every major regulatory change, the 2026 season is expected to be marked by a surge in mechanical failures, particularly those related to brakes or battery cooling. It remains to be seen which of the five engine manufacturers involved will manage to gain an advantage and seize the opportunity from the very first races.
ALSO READ > Which engine manufacturers will supply each of the F1 teams in 2026?
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vincent moyet
13/01/2026 at 11:23 a.m.
The best games, those that have existed for centuries, are the simplest, because learning the rules is very quick, and then strategy is what makes good players. F1 does the exact opposite: layer upon layer of complexity is added, like on a paycheck, until nobody understands anything anymore. It's as if the unspoken goal is "sneaky, unseen, I'll confuse you," and F1 is becoming a kind of shell game for gullible spectators whose role is reduced to observing what's happening without understanding. Very much in keeping with the times, that too. And as for manipulating results in the name of the sacrosanct "suspense," that takes the cake. "So-and-so is penalized 3 seconds because he pressed this button twice," "what's-his-name is demoted for not hitting the right button combination on his steering wheel," and so on. So yes, we're going to get fooled again, if only out of curiosity to see how it works, but for how long? And then F1 will be aimed at 10-year-olds who will be amused...for a while.
Yves-Henri RANDIER
12/01/2026 at 05:56 a.m.
A less complex, gas-guzzling machine than its predecessor, which will guzzle sustainable fuel! Beyond that, let's wait and see how it performs on the track with half the power supplied via electricity! Why doesn't F1 return to its fundamentals, namely high-performance engines without any electrification, leaving the "coffee grinder/vacuum cleaner" aspect to Formula E?
Paul Lucas
12/01/2026 at 05:15 a.m.
Yeah, it reminds me of the current circus, with the mandatory electric cars imposed by that stupid idiot von der Leyen, and the about-face, given the dramatic consequences for European manufacturers... meanwhile, the Chinese have won everything... sad times, but as the saying goes, "trying to have it all, try to have too much".