F1 bosses have agreed to change the sport’s engine regulations for the 2027 season by adjusting the current near-50/50 power distribution to increase internal combustion engine output.
Friday’s online meeting, attended by F1, FIA, team principals and engine manufacturer chiefs, discussed the impact of recent regulation tweaks introduced at last week’s Miami Grand Prix and what else can be done to improve the ruleset for the remainder of the season and in the long term.
While attention is focused on what kind of hardware design changes will be made to the V6 hybrid power unit starting as early as next season, a general agreement has been reached that the current almost equal distribution of electric power to the internal combustion engine will be changed by increasing the output of the former and reducing the output of the latter.
Changes in 2027 due to power factor reduction will bring the power split closer to 60/40.
“Looking at long-term improvements to the regulations, it was agreed in principle to introduce evolutionary changes to the rules regarding hardware components to make competition safer, fairer and more intuitive for drivers and teams,” the FIA said in a statement.
“The 2027 measures agreed in principle today will increase the power of internal combustion engines (ICE) by up to 50kW nominally, while simultaneously increasing fuel flows and reducing the deployed power of energy recovery systems (ERS) by up to 50kW nominally.
“It was agreed that further detailed discussions within the technical group consisting of teams and power unit manufacturers are required before the final package is decided upon.”
Once the power unit manufacturers have voted on the final agreed package, the measure will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for its rubber stamp, which is likely to be a formal regulatory process at this stage.
Changes to the power unit design will require longer lead times, so further discussion will take place on the issue to solidify plans and allow stakeholders to further assess all possible ramifications before introduction in 2027.
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Highlights of the 2026 Miami Grand Prix.
At Friday’s meeting, F1 officials also agreed that immediate adjustments to the rules introduced in Miami to improve the experience for drivers driving flat out without excessive energy savings while increasing safety had proven reassuring.
“These measures aimed at improving safety and reducing overharvesting were deemed to improve competition and be a positive step towards continued improvement of the 2026 framework,” the statement said.
“The FIA also reported that no significant issues or safety concerns were identified following the implementation in Miami.”
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Ted Kravitz explains the regulation changes introduced during the season’s long hiatus before Miami.
Stakeholders remain open to revisions to further smooth out the all-new regulations for 2026, with tweaks to race starts (after a system to help struggling cars leave the grid being trialled in Miami) and wet-weather running also set to be introduced.
“Further evaluation of the Miami package is underway with a view to introducing further adjustments at future events,” the FIA said.
“These include improvements to start safety and measures to improve safety in wet conditions. These will be communicated to the team as soon as they are determined.”
F1 then heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and Sprint Weekend. Watch Sky Sports F1 live from 22nd to 24th May. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
