Mercedes and Renault warn that agreed engine rules for 2026 should not be tweaked.
Whereas the groups’ social media admins dutifully reposted the photographs of the proposed look of 2026, eulogising the work of F1 and the FIA, the engineers and drivers have been pawing over the accompanying official assertion, subsequently admitting their fears that every one was not nicely.
Nonetheless, it is not solely the groups which can be sad, for proposed tweaks to the agreed engine rules have left the producers sad additionally.
In its bid to attain a 50/50 break up between the standard Inside Combustion Engine (ICE) and electrical vitality saved in batteries, a significant affect by way of Audi and Ford getting into the game, new gas stream limits have been to be launched.
Nonetheless, as a part of the drive to make the brand new technology of automobiles sooner it has been proposed that the boundaries be elevated so as to improve the output of the ICE.
“If there are some tweaks wanted, I am fairly assured the PU producers would assist and be collaborative,” stated the FIA’s single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis in Montreal final week in response to criticism of the proposed rules from the groups and drivers.
Nonetheless, in the identical means that elements of the chassis and aero rules seem to have been agreed with out settlement from the groups, the engine producers are none too completely happy about choices equivalent to this being made when the rules have been basically set in stone.
“On the ability unit facet, the ship has sailed,” stated Toto Wolff. “On the chassis facet there are tweaks which can be doable that we have to do, however on the engine facet the method is way too superior.
“There are groups that really feel they’re on the again foot,” he added, “and there are different groups that can really feel, and OEMs, that they’ve executed a great job. That is the traditional sort of wrestling on rules.”
It is truthful to say that a type of Wolff known as being on the “again foot” is Renault, which, nonetheless looking for to catch up after the earlier guidelines overhaul, is trying to turns issues round considerably in 2026. Nonetheless, any tweaks this late within the day would possible set the Frernch producer again once more.
“We have to be cautious as a result of on the chassis facet, virtually nothing is completed, as a result of there is no such thing as a regulation,” stated Bruno Famin. “However on the PU we’ve two years of labor.”
Nonetheless, ever the contrarian, Christian Horner, whose Pink Bull Powertrains enters the game in its personal proper in 2026, does not agree.
“There’s at all times one that does not need to change,” he stated. “However that is all the way down to the FIA. They’ve all of the data and simulations.
“As I say, it’s by no means too late,” he insisted. “You’ve got to have a look at what’s finest for F1 on the finish of the day and what is going to produce the very best racing. So, belief within the FIA and FOM to make the precise calls. Whether or not that’s required or not, they’ve all of the data to know.”
