Discussions about Formula 1 engines for 2027 gained a new chapter during the Monaco GP weekend. Ferrari and Audi expressed concerns about the changes proposed by the FIA, highlighting points that still need to be defined before the final approval of the regulations.
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The debate revolves around the category’s intention to alter the power division between the internal combustion engine and the electrical part of the power unit. In May, the FIA announced that there was an agreement in principle to change the current 50/50 ratio to 60/40, favoring the internal combustion engine, but the implementation details remain open.
The meetings held in Monaco brought together engine manufacturers and the FIA to discuss the best way to put the changes into practice. The objective is to define which topics will require additional analysis before the next formal meeting of the Power Unit Advisory Committee, scheduled for June 14.
According to the information released, Mercedes, Red Bull Powertrains-Ford, and Honda showed openness to the proposal. Ferrari, however, presented concerns related to additional development and upgrade opportunities, known by the acronym ADUO. The Italian team argues that the 2026 engine designs were already conceived based on the current regulations, making adaptation at an advanced stage of development complex.
One of the alternatives discussed would be to separate the internal combustion engine from the electrical components within this regulatory process. Ferrari’s main concern is precisely the inclusion of the internal combustion engine within the permissions provided by the ADUO system.
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Audi, for its part, does not oppose the goal of achieving the 60/40 ratio, but prefers a more gradual transition. The German manufacturer advocates for a smaller change in 2027, leaving the full adoption of the new balance for the 2028 season. The brand’s concerns are mainly linked to the costs and feasibility of the alteration, an aspect that has also been cited by other teams.
Even with these divergences, the consensus among manufacturers is that the changes should happen. The focus of the negotiations is on the technical details and the processes necessary to make the proposal acceptable to all involved. One of the arguments in favor of the new division is that it would require few hardware alterations to the power unit, although it would demand greater fuel consumption and, consequently, larger tanks for race distances.
With the next decisive meeting approaching, the meetings held in Monaco are seen as fundamental to defining Formula 1’s regulatory path towards 2027. The expectation now is that the FIA and manufacturers will find a solution that preserves the necessary consensus for the implementation of the new rules.
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