Tombazis reveals how F1 will avoid "imbalances" after the introduction of the 2026 power units
Ahead of the introduction of the all-new 2026 F1 power units, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained how the sport will try to prevent a repeat of the 2014 power unit imbalance, where Mercedes dominated due to early investment.
The following season will see Formula One introduce a new power unit. The new construction is expected to continue to produce over 1,000 bhp (750 kW), although the power will come from different sources.
The new power unit will include a turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 internal combustion engine configuration which will be very similar to what has been used since 2014. However, the power output of the internal combustion part of the power unit will decrease to 540 bhp from 850 bhp.
While the Motor Generator Unit – Heat will be banned, the Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic output will increase to 470 bhp (350 kW) from 160 bhp (120 kW).
In addition, fuel flow rates will be measured and limited based on energy, rather than mass of the fuel itself. The power units will use a fully sustainable fuel being developed by Formula One. The power units are expected to recover twice as much electrical energy as before.
Although the new power unit regulation are set to arrive in less than a year, the sport is currently discussing concerns that the drivers would run out of battery on power-sensitive circuits with long straights, forcing the drivers to "lift and coast" before the braking zone.
Ahead of the introduction of the all-new 2026 F1 power units, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained how the sport will try to prevent a repeat of the 2014 power unit imbalance, where Mercedes dominated due to early investment.
“There have been imbalances in the past, and normally such things get overcome with extra spending by people who need to recover, as well as with much hard work, sweat and tears.
“That is more difficult with the cost cap. There are already provisions in the regulations for underperformers – these were put in as a placeholder back in 2022 when the regulations were first approved. We are now in the process of discussing with the PU manufacturers what the exact provisions need to be for that.
“Just to be clear, we are discussing provisions that would enable an under-performer to carry out more development work. We are categorically not discussing any artificial mechanism that would boost the performance of an underperforming engine.
“This is necessary under the cost cap, because [otherwise] we could be facing a situation where an underperformer would never be able to catch up under the cost cap. There is a huge amount of know-how in F1.
"We’re asking people [i.e. new PU manufacturers] to jump into the deep end when they don’t have this accumulated know-how over 10 or 15 years, so we feel that morally and from a fairness point of view there must be a mechanism which enables them to catch up and compete at the same level.
“We don’t want to have somebody who’s eternally condemned to misery and humiliation," concluded Tombazis.
