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The Guardian World1 min read
F1 bosses agree to engine design change for 2027
TL;DR
Formula 1 officials have approved a change to the engine design for the 2027 season, increasing internal combustion engine power by 50kW. This adjustment aims to enhance driver performance and reduce the need for energy management during qualifying.
Key points
- F1 has agreed to change engine design for 2027 season
- Internal combustion engine power will increase by 50kW
- Electrical power will decrease by the same amount
- Drivers have criticized current energy management requirements
- Changes aim to enhance driver performance in qualifying
Formula 1 bosses have agreed a change to engine design for the 2027 season in response to criticisms of the new power units introduced this year.
Drivers have complained that the near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power and need for energy management has diminished the challenge in qualifying.
It was agreed in principle in a meeting of teams, commercial rights holder F1 and governing body the FIA on Friday to increase the proportion of total power coming from the internal combustion engine by 50kW (67bhp) and reduce the electrical power by the same amount.
This effect of this should be for drivers to be able to drive in a more conventional way in qualifying.
At the moment, the cars require energy management techniques such as recovering energy while on full throttle, which leads to a speed drop-off before corners and through some fast curves.
A statement from the FIA said the meeting had agreed unanimously on the changes.
The details will be discussed in technical groups involving teams and power-unit manufacturers before a final package is agreed.
The changes will require development to existing engines but a senior insider said: "Everybody is in the mood for a challenge."
The meeting also echoed the F1 drivers' views that changes to the operation of the engines for last weekend's race in Miami had been "a step in the right direction".
The drivers almost unanimously expressed the same view over the weekend in Miami.
McLaren's world champion Lando Norris said after finishing second in the race on Sunday: "It's a small step in the right direction, but it's not to the level that Formula 1 should still be at yet.
"If you go flat out everywhere and you try pushing like you were in previous years, you still just get penalised for it. You still can't be flat out everywhere. It's not about being on as early on throttle everywhere.
"You should never get penalised for that kind of thing and you still do."
Q&A
What changes are being made to F1 engines for the 2027 season?
F1 bosses have agreed to increase the internal combustion engine power by 50kW while reducing electrical power by the same amount.
Why are F1 drivers unhappy with the current engine design?
Drivers have expressed concerns that the current 50-50 power split between internal combustion and electrical power has made qualifying less challenging due to the need for energy management.
How will the new engine design affect F1 qualifying?
The changes are expected to allow drivers to drive in a more conventional manner during qualifying, improving overall performance.
