In order to adapt to changes in the Western and Asian automotive industry which tend towards electrification, the Formula 1 regulations will change in 2026. Indeed, the engines will have to be modified. The current 950HP engines, which now have approximately 165HP (120KW) electric will have approximately 475HP (320KW) coming from the ERS (Energy Recovery System) and its batteries.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver expressed his concerns about these changes at the last Austrian GP: “For me the problem is that it looks like it will be a combustion engine race (the opposite of this which is expected), so whoever has the more powerful engine will have big advantages. This should not be the intention of Formula 1, because a massive development war will start again and it will be very expensive to find horses here and there”, argues the double world champion. “The cars will probably have a lot less drag, so it will be even harder to overtake on the straight,” he concludes.
