P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alpine: ‘Unacceptable’ if FIA changes 50:50 power split of 2026 F1 engines
During the development of the 2026-30 engine regulations, Audi and Porsche showed interest in committing to the championship, leading to a focus on sustainability and an increased contribution from the electrified part of the hybrid powertrain. Concerns arose when initial simulator data showed potential issues with sudden slowing on straights and the need to downshift gears due to extreme battery regeneration. To address this, there is room for the rules to change the power split away from 50:50, but the interim boss of the Alpine race team, Bruno Famin, warned against making such changes after teams have already worked on their concepts. Famin stated that all parties involved, including Formula 1, the FIA, teams, and power unit manufacturers, are working together to find the right regulations. F1 officials responded to teams’ complaints about the simulations, pointing out that the teams’ data was months out of date compared to their own research. The 2026 cars will prioritize chassis design, with a focus on greater active aerodynamics and a potential reduction in maximum power from the internal combustion engine.
