Wednesday brought important news for the future of Formula 1 and also for the next stage of the championship. Ferrari may bring a new power unit to Monza with an estimated gain of 15 hp, while Stefano Domenicali admitted that the possibility of V8 engines returning to the category from 2030 is “quite significant.”
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In Maranello, the units destined for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have already been assembled, but still need to pass endurance tests before final release for the Italian GP. The new engine, identified as 067/6, was developed within the ADUO system and will also feature changes to the turbos, combustion chamber, and hybrid system recharging. The decision on its debut in Monza should be made by the end of this week.
The debate about engines also advanced, considering the next technical cycle. Domenicali stated that the chance of V8s returning is significant and revealed support for the proposal advocated by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, which foresees powertrains associated with sustainable fuels. “I think it’s quite significant. The FIA president really wants this, and we support him in that regard,” said the F1 CEO, emphasizing that the details still need to be defined.
At Red Bull, Max Verstappen already knows who is being prepared to replace Gianpiero Lambiase as his race engineer. Tom Hart will remain with the team and is expected to progressively take on the role, initially working in some sessions while Lambiase remains responsible for other activities. Lambiase is expected to leave Red Bull at the end of the year to join McLaren after completing the mandatory gardening leave period.
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The driver market for 2027 also saw new developments. According to GPblog, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are the favorites to remain at Racing Bulls, although Nikola Tsolov is also in contention. The Formula 2 leader will have his first test with an F1 car this week in Imola, but the most likely path currently considered would be to take on a test and reserve role next year.
Off-track, the uncertainty surrounding the calendar became one of the big topics of the day. Teams want an answer from the FIA and FOM by the end of September regarding the holding of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs, threatened by the situation in the Middle East. The teams have already booked hotels in the Imola region for the first weekend of December, while the Italian track appears as an alternative should one of the final rounds need to be replaced.
Uncertainties also extend to 2027. China emerged as the main alternative to open next season should Bahrain and Saudi Arabia again be unable to host the category. The preferred plan is still to start in the Middle East, but F1 is working with different combinations involving China, Japan, and Australia to preserve the intention of holding a full 24-race calendar.
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