The FIA announced an important change in the Formula 1 regulations for the 2027 and 2028 engines, expanding the flexibility granted to manufacturers during the first years of the new technical cycle. The measure extends for two more seasons a more permissive regime for the use of power unit components.
Read more F1: Norris highlights desire to race at Le Mans with McLaren: «That is the plan»
This decision especially benefits manufacturers during a period of adaptation to the new engine rules. With less time available for development and a higher risk of reliability issues, the entity chose to avoid teams facing stricter limits precisely in the initial phase of the new regulation.
With the change, each driver will be able to use four combustion engines, four turbochargers, and four exhaust systems per season in 2027 and 2028. In addition, three MGU-Ks, three batteries, and three electronic control units will continue to be allowed for each championship.
Initially, this flexibility was only planned for 2026, the first year of the new rules. The FIA’s original plan was to return to the previous limits starting in 2027, allowing only three combustion engines, three turbochargers, two MGU-Ks, two batteries, and two electronic control units per driver during the season.
Read more Binotto defends efficient engines for the next generation of Formula 1
According to information from the GPblog website, the decision to maintain the more flexible regime was motivated by the fact that the changes in the regulations were approved relatively late. This scenario reduced the development time of the new power units and increased concerns about possible reliability failures.
The change also accompanies other changes planned for Formula 1 engines. The participation between electric power and combustion will be adjusted to a ratio of 43/57 in 2027 and 40/60 in 2028, modifying how the power units will deliver performance in the coming seasons.
In the FIA’s assessment, increasing the allowed number of components will give manufacturers, especially new participants, more leeway to solve potential reliability problems without quickly reaching the regulatory limit. The entity also made it clear that this flexibility is directly linked to the first years of the new generation of power units, a period considered the most sensitive for technology development.
Read more Müller/Di Mauro have a 100% record to win the opening of the Porsche Endurance in the Algarve
