P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The FIA is reportedly set to allow a relaxation of a key rule change in F1 for its three pre-season testing schedules.
According to reports, the FIA is considering relaxing a key rule change in Formula 1 for the upcoming pre-season testing schedules.
The 2026 F1 season will bring new regulations, with a shift towards more electric power in the cars’ engines, aiming for a 50-50 balance with internal combustion engines.
To meet Net Zero targets, sustainable fuels will be introduced, but their development and homologation pose challenges and significant costs.
Financial estimates suggest teams could face expenses up to $100,000 per race weekend, amounting to nearly $2.5 million per season due to the higher costs of sustainable fuels.
To alleviate this, the FIA is reportedly allowing the use of non-compliant fuels for the upcoming testing programs in Barcelona and Bahrain, granting financial exemptions to fuel suppliers like ExxonMobil.
This one-year exemption aims to ease the financial strain on teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda/Aston Martin, Red Bull Powertrains, and Audi before mandatory compliance in the 2027 F1 season.
