Formula 1 bosses have agreed to make changes to the sport’s controversial engine rules for next season.
A 50-50 split between combustion and electrical power, which place an onus on drivers managing their battery, effectively slowing down on a qualifying lap, and ‘gimmicks’, such as a boost button to overtake, has faced criticism, led by four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Tweaks were made to the regulations for last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix and, following a meeting on Friday between F1, its regulator, the FIA, and the grid’s 11 team principals, next year’s engine design is also set to be adapted.
The power from the Internal Combustion Engine will be increased by 50kw while the Energy Recovery System will be decreased by 50kw.
It is hoped the measures will eradicate the current requirement for drivers to recover energy by lifting off the throttle in qualifying, and make racing more “intuitive” for the sport’s stars.
A statement from the FIA read: “The conclusion from the deployment of modifications in Miami, designed to improve safety and reduce excessive harvesting, was that they resulted in improved competition and were a step in the right direction.
“Turning to the longer-term measures, there is unanimous commitment to introduce changes which further enhanced fair and safe competition, that were intuitive for drivers and teams and were in the best interests of the sport.
“The measures agreed in principle today for 2027 would see a nominal increase in Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) power by 50kw with a fuel-flow increase and a nominal reduction of the Energy Recovery System (ERS) deployment power by 50kw.”
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli leads the world championship from British team-mate George Russell after winning three of the first four rounds. The next race takes place in Canada on 24 May.
PA
