P1racenews AI automatic summary:
One eye is already being cast to the 2026 F1 season when fresh technical regulations could shake up the pecking order.
Adrian Newey, a well-known figure in Formula 1, has forecasted that the upcoming season’s performance hierarchy will be heavily influenced by the new power units that are set to enter the picture in 2026. The changes in engine and chassis regulations for 2026 will mark a significant shift, particularly with the engine specifications undergoing their most substantial modification in over a decade. The introduction of the current hybrid power units in 2014 saw Mercedes establish dominance that endured for multiple seasons virtually unchallenged. Newey, a seasoned championship-winning figure in F1 across different eras, anticipates a similar scenario unfolding come next year, with a high likelihood of the competition initially revolving around the power units. According to Newey, the upcoming power units will feature an equal share of output between the combustion engine and the battery, with formidable power enhancements slated for the battery component. With five manufacturers entering the fray with their power units – Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull-Ford, Honda, and Audi – Newey highlights the potential difficulties in narrowing a gap should one constructor hold an advantage in the combustion engine sector. His analysis underscores the challenges faced by trailing competitors in catching up if a dominant combustion engine design prevails from the outset, compared to the comparative flexibility available for improvements on the electrical side. Also, he notes that introducing different fuels into engines not optimized for them is not a simple fix due to restrictions and the highly specialized nature of the power units.
