F1 Bosses Agree to 2027 Engine Design Changes Following Power Unit Criticism

Formula 1 leaders, including the governing body FIA, the teams, and the commercial rights holder, agreed in principle on May 8, 2026, to implement changes to engine designs for the 2027 season. The decision comes as a direct response to criticisms from drivers regarding the new power units introduced at the start of the 2026 season.

The agreed changes will involve increasing the nominal power of the internal combustion engine (ICE) by approximately 50kW, which is equivalent to 67bhp. To maintain balance, there will be a corresponding nominal reduction of approximately 50kW in the power deployment of the energy recovery system (ERS).

According to a statement from the FIA, these measures are intended to be intuitive for drivers and teams.

The current 2026 regulations introduced a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power. This design has been unpopular with drivers, who have complained that the heavy reliance on energy management has diminished the competitive challenge, particularly during qualifying sessions.

Under the current system, cars require specific energy management techniques, such as recovering energy while the driver is on full throttle. This requirement often leads to a noticeable drop-off in speed before corners and through certain fast curves.

The 2027 adjustments are expected to almost entirely eliminate these speed drop-offs, with the exception of the most energy-starved circuits. The goal is to allow drivers to operate the vehicles in a more conventional manner during qualifying.

The FIA reported that the agreement reached during the May 8, 2026, meeting was unanimous. The specific technical details will now be discussed within technical groups involving the teams and power-unit manufacturers before a final regulatory package is agreed upon.

These technical groups will also evaluate other potential measures to achieve the same objective of making energy harvesting either easier to manage or less critical to overall performance.

The 2026 season began with significant changes to power unit regulations. Following the first three Grands Prix of the year, initial tweaks were already made to slightly curb the influence of electrical power. Those changes were designed to promote pure driving skill over the tactical requirements of electrical recharging.

The Miami Grand Prix, held the weekend prior to May 8, 2026, was the first event conducted under those initial tweaks. The race was described as one of the most wide open in recent history, with drivers from four different teams leading at various points. Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes eventually won the race, marking his third victory of the 2026 season.

The shift toward increased electrical power has proven highly polarizing among the drivers. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has expressed such strong dislike for the energy management requirements that he has questioned his future in Formula 1.

Formula 1 has utilized V6 engines with electrical hybrid power since 2014. However, the recent increase in the proportion of electrical power has forced drivers to fundamentally alter their approach to tactical racing, making the timing of electrical boosts and the efficiency of recharging the primary keys to success.

While the 2027 changes will necessitate further development of existing engines, industry insiders have indicated that the teams and manufacturers are prepared for the challenge of updating the hardware.