FIA Locks In 2027 F1 Engine Changes, Shifting Power Balance Toward Combustion

The FIA has locked in major power unit changes for the 2027 and 2028 Formula 1 seasons, shifting the energy balance away from the near 50:50 split between internal combustion and electrical power introduced this year. Starting in 2027, the championship will adopt a 58:42 ratio favoring the internal combustion engine, escalating to 60:40 the following year.

Why it matters:

The revisions follow sustained concerns from teams and drivers struggling with the steep energy management demands of the 2026 regulations. By rebalancing toward combustion power, the FIA aims to ease the operational burden on drivers while addressing complaints that the current framework overly complicates racing and car behavior.

The details:

• Power rebalancing: Internal combustion output will rise by approximately 20kW in 2027, while the energy recovery system's maximum capability drops by 50kW. Maximum harvesting capacity per lap increases by 25kW to mitigate electrical deployment losses at high speed.
• Fuel and flow: The fuel flow rate increases by five percent in 2027, with a further 13 percent rise by 2028 as ICE output climbs to 450kW.
• Operational changes: The FIA may limit pre-race reconnaissance laps at circuits like Monza and trim race distances by one or two laps where necessary. Pre-season testing for 2027 also expands from three days to four, reflecting the complexity of the current cars.
• Safety updates: In wet or low-grip conditions, a partial Boost Mode returns solely to prevent power reduction, while the overtake function is disabled to curb closing speeds in poor visibility. The heat hazard procedure can now be applied separately to a sprint, grand prix, or both.

What's next:

The council approved the first issue of the 2027 technical regulations, incorporating lessons from the 2026 season. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized ongoing collaboration to balance innovation, sustainability, and performance, noting that future concepts including sustainable-fuel V8 engines remain under discussion as the sport maps out its long-term direction.