Formula 1’s regulatory deadline 
Stefano Domenicali wants a quick decision. The governing body is keen to lock in the rules before the end of 2026. The current Concorde Agreement runs out in 2030. The FIA has the power to force through a new power unit formula from 2031. Engine makers are now talking in an effort to find a shared direction.
Developing a power unit takes time. A lot of time. The teams want long-term clarity, not another round of guesswork. Sustainable fuel is set to sit at the heart of those talks. Some already see the 2026 rules as nothing more than a stopgap.
Mercedes’ technical stance
Toto Wolff backs a V8 layout. The revs need to stay high to fit the brand’s identity. Hybrid tech, though, is still non-negotiable. Mercedes’ bosses have ruled out a pure combustion engine. The aim is to keep the sport tied to road-car engineering.
One possible package is already being talked about. It would pair 800 horsepower from the engine with 400 horsepower from electric power. Even then, it would remain a serious engineering challenge. Mercedes is not interested in dumbing things down and drifting too far from the realities of the global car market.
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What the other manufacturers think
Honda and Audi are watching the car market closely. Electric-car sales are shaping strategy. Audi wants to keep the turbocharger at the centre of the package. Cadillac is working on a hybrid V6 for a 2029 launch. The American maker could end up running two technical programmes at once if the rules change in 2030.
Red Bull Powertrains is happy to go along with the shift. Laurent Mekies says the operation is built to adapt. After all, the team started its engine project without any real technical baggage. Ferrari has a clear target for the next generation of power units. The Scuderia wants to cut development spending. Frdric Vasseur believes the current costs are far too high for the manufacturers.
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