P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The jeopardy of mechanical failures has felt all but eradicated from F1 in the last couple of years – but is expected to return in early 2026
The 2026 F1 season might bring back some excitement with the introduction of new engines, potentially leading to more mechanical failures and unpredictability on the track, according to Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin.
In the last two seasons, only 10.5% of drivers retired due to mechanical issues, with most retirements blamed on driver errors rather than engine failures, a stark contrast to past eras with higher retirement rates.
The upcoming engine changes will challenge teams to build reliable cars with new technologies and increase the emphasis on reliability as a differentiating factor in races, a departure from recent seasons where breakdowns were rare.
The 2026 power units will feature a mix of conventional V6 and electrical power, demanding more battery capacity and posing a significant design challenge for manufacturers who will have limited time for real-world testing before the season begins.
As seen in past seasons, major rule changes, like those in 2014, can lead to stress during the pre-season testing period, with limited opportunities for troubleshooting before the first race in Australia, potentially bringing back some of the excitement and unpredictability to Formula 1.
