'Safer, fairer and more intuitive': F1 announce long-term changes to engine for 2027 season
Formula 1 is set to see an major engine design change as early as 2027, aimed to promote "safer and fairer" racing in the sport.
The FIA convened team bosses, power unit manufacturers and F1 management to address the fallout from the 2026 regulation overhaul with the group reaching an agreement to increase the output of the internal combustion engine (ICE) while scaling back the sport's reliance on battery power.
The 2026 regulations originally mandated a 50-50 power split between the traditional engine and the onboard battery pack.
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However, this sparked immediate backlash from the paddock. In Melbourne, driver sentiment was at an all-time low, with many complaining that the heavy reliance on energy harvesting led to "anti-racing" tactics.
Improved signs in Miami caused the FIA meeting to go ahead. Getty
To fix this, the FIA confirmed a shift that will bring the power split closer to 60-40.
"The measures agreed in principle today for 2027 would see a nominal increase in internal combustion engine (ICE) power ... alongside a fuel-flow increase and a nominal reduction of the energy recovery system (ERS) deployment power ... ," the FIA statement said.
In layman's terms, the combustion engine power will be increased, the rate at which fuel flows into the engine will be increased, and the electric engine will be turned down.
The governing body noted recent modifications deployed during the North American swing in Miami resulted in a "step in the right direction."
The 2027 changes are a welcome product in the F1 paddock. Getty
Rules were introduced that altered how much drivers were required to back off to boost their engine energy harvesting on each lap, along with several measures implemented on safety grounds.
The FIA also admitted that further adjustments could be made, mentioning improved start-safety revisions and measures to improve safety under wet conditions.
F1 has used V6 engines with electrical hybrid power since 2014 and an increase in the amount of electrical power has forced drivers to adjust.
The rules had been loathed by fans and drivers. Getty
The change is a direct response to paddock voices such as four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who has been so vocal in his loathing of the 2026 regulations that he openly questioned his future in the sport.
On the logistical front, F1 is working to salvage a full season calendar following the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix earlier this year.
According to PlanetF1, a decision will be made in two to three weeks about a window to slot the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in, should the conflict situation in the Middle East change.
The most likely scenario involves slotting Saudi Arabia into December, a move that would force the Abu Dhabi season finale to be delayed by at least a week.
Oscar Piastri stood on the podium last time out in Saudi Arabia. Formula 1 via Getty Images
"We're focused on a 22-race calendar," said Brian Wendling, Liberty's chief accounting officer.
"We're still hopeful that we can move one of those races to the back part of the year, and so that would be upside, but that's what's in the forecast at this point, it's the 22 races."
Next on the calendar is the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on May 23-25 (AEST).
