Mercedes and Renault warn that agreed engine rules for 2026 should not be tweaked.
Whereas the groups’ social media admins dutifully reposted the pictures of the proposed look of 2026, eulogising the work of F1 and the FIA, the engineers and drivers had been pawing over the accompanying official assertion, subsequently admitting their fears that each one was not nicely.
Nevertheless, it is not solely the groups which are sad, for proposed tweaks to the agreed engine rules have left the producers sad additionally.
In its bid to realize a 50/50 cut up between the normal Inside Combustion Engine (ICE) and electrical power saved in batteries, a serious affect when it comes to Audi and Ford coming into the game, new gas stream limits had been to be launched.
Nevertheless, as a part of the drive to make the brand new technology of automobiles sooner it has been proposed that the boundaries be elevated to be able to enhance 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.
Nevertheless, in the identical method that points of the chassis and aero rules seem to have been agreed with out settlement from the groups, the engine producers are none too pleased about selections similar to this being made when the rules had been primarily set in stone.
“On the ability unit aspect, the ship has sailed,” stated Toto Wolff. “On the chassis aspect there are tweaks which are attainable that we have to do, however on the engine aspect the method is much 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 carried out an excellent job. That is the traditional type of wrestling on rules.”
It is honest to say that a type of Wolff known as being on the “again foot” is Renault, which, nonetheless in search of to catch up after the earlier guidelines overhaul, is seeking to turns issues round considerably in 2026. Nevertheless, 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 aspect, virtually nothing is completed, as a result of there isn’t any regulation,” stated Bruno Famin. “However on the PU we’ve two years of labor.”
Nevertheless, ever the contrarian, Christian Horner, whose Purple Bull Powertrains enters the game in its personal proper in 2026, does not agree.
“There may be at all times one that does not need to change,” he stated. “However that is right 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 perfect 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.”
