Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Formula 1 needs to be `open-minded` about a potential late change to the 2026 power unit regulations, a proposal he had earlier dismissed as `a joke`.
A recent meeting of the F1 Commission discussed potentially reducing the electrical energy output from the power units. Adjusting regulations this close to a major rule change is uncommon in Formula 1.
Although a vote on the proposal was anticipated, it didn`t occur. To change the regulations, four out of the five engine manufacturers – Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull-Ford Powertrains, Audi, and Honda – would have needed to vote in favour.
What is the proposed change to the 2026 power units?
The new 2026 regulations are planned to have an equal 50-50 split between the internal combustion engine and electrical energy output in the power unit.
Currently, the 2025 power units use about 20 percent electricity, marking a significant increase for 2026.
However, the suggested modification would decrease the electrical motor`s power in race conditions from 350kW to 200kW, resulting in a 60-40 split favoring the combustion engine.
Before the meeting, Wolff had criticized the proposal, calling it `almost as hilarious as reading some of the comments that I see on Twitter on American politics.` Nevertheless, he has since altered his position.
`Obviously, as we get closer to new regulations, everyone – including us – acts in the team`s best interest; that`s their responsibility,` Wolff stated.
He added, `Our perspective is that we don`t know how things will unfold next year. Will we witness energy harvesting failures in places like Baku or Monza? I don`t know. We hope not.`
Wolff explained, `What we`ve indicated is that instead of making decisions now based on assumptions – a tendency we`ve had in past years, sometimes overshooting or undershooting – there`s no need to discard the existing hardware; changes can be managed through software adjustments within the current framework.`
He concluded, `We will see the final outcome during testing next year. As power unit suppliers, we want the sport to be spectacular. We aim to win, but we also recognize that variability and unpredictability are essential for the sport.`
Mercedes is generally considered to be in a strong position regarding the 2026 regulations, which represent the most significant rule changes in F1 history, affecting almost every technical aspect.
The previous major engine regulation change in 2014 led to Mercedes` dominance for three seasons with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, before other teams like Ferrari and Red Bull closed the gap.
During that period (2014-2021), Mercedes secured a record-breaking eight consecutive constructors` championships and seven consecutive drivers` championships.
`I strive to maintain a balance between what benefits Mercedes, which is my duty, and finding the best path forward for the sport,` Wolff commented. `We must prevent such drastic performance swings.`
He continued, `The FIA initially proposed this engine concept, which wasn`t universally popular. The 50 percent electric component was based on the direction of road car technology at the time and aimed to attract manufacturers like Audi and Porsche. So, we proceeded with that.`
`It`s challenging to alter the rules now, particularly for new entrants,` Wolff noted. `Honda recommitted, and Audi joined, and none of the manufacturers, including us, are eager to change these targets at this point. However, we must remain open-minded if the situation requires it.`
F1 2026 Teams and Engine Suppliers
| Team | Engine |
|---|---|
| McLaren | Mercedes |
| Mercedes | Mercedes |
| Red Bull | Red Bull-Ford |
| Ferrari | Ferrari |
| Williams | Mercedes |
| Haas | Ferrari |
| Aston Martin | Honda |
| Racing Bulls | Red Bull-Ford |
| Alpine | Mercedes |
| Audi | Audi |
| Cadillac | Ferrari |
Horner: Proposal Reflects Long-Standing Concerns
Red Bull is set to begin a new phase, developing their own Red Bull Powertrains engine in technical collaboration with Ford.
Christian Horner, Red Bull`s team principal, had previously described the proposal as `pretty sensible` and believes that any modification to the electrical output would solely be for improving the racing.
Horner stated, `The primary concern is not a new one. It was highlighted two years ago by all the PUMs (power unit manufacturers) regarding the extent of energy harvesting.`
`Inevitably, chassis designers will push beyond the regulation limits, resulting in a significant amount of `lift-and-coast` driving during a Grand Prix,` he added.
Horner also pointed out, `It`s important to remember that under the 2026 rules, cars will effectively be in constant DRS mode on straights as the wing opens. This means there won`t be a specific overtaking assist mechanism like the current DRS.`
He continued, `The FIA has brought up this matter again, which the PUMs considered previously. If reducing extensive `lift-and-coast` is truly beneficial for the sport and racing, then I believe it deserves consideration. This wouldn`t alter the engine`s specification or output, but rather the amount of battery deployment, possibly varying by Grand Prix.`
Wolff and Horner Divided on 2026 Car Weight Target
Another point of discussion regarding 2026 is the concern about the difficulty in reaching the minimum car weight of 768kg, a reduction of 32kg compared to current cars.
The FIA reduced the weight target to make the future cars more agile and improve racing, anticipating this will be achieved through reduced wheelbase and width.
However, Red Bull`s Christian Horner believes the heavier new power units will offset the weight savings from smaller cars and tyres.
`The car weight target seemed arbitrarily chosen,` Horner commented. `We have significantly heavier engines coupled with a reduced car weight target.`
`Therefore, it will be a massive challenge for every team to meet it,` he added. `Reducing weight is extremely expensive. There was even talk last week about adding steel skids, which might justify increasing the minimum weight by 5 kilos.`
`But that`s the situation. It`s the same for all teams. Teams will need to make strategic choices to reach the weight target, as weight reduction translates directly into lap time gains,` Horner concluded.
In F1, shedding 10kg is typically worth about three-tenths of a second per lap, a substantial advantage. Thus, significant weight variations between cars could heavily influence the competitive order.
Conversely, Wolff supports the FIA`s proposed minimum weight limit for 2026.
`As Christian mentioned, teams have choices to make,` Wolff explained. `How much lap time gain do you prioritize from weight reduction versus using ballast? Where do you choose to make savings?`
`You might have to compromise on other performance components to cut weight, or vice versa. It`s challenging. The goal behind this is to make the cars more nimble. Was that important? I believe so. We have to begin somewhere. This first step is hard, but everyone faces the same challenge.`
