With over two years left until the debut of the new Formula 1 regulations, attention is already high. The upcoming generation of power units is causing discussions for various reasons, from active aerodynamics to the risk that battery charging could slow down the cars on straights.
One of the main issues, however, is that of weight, highlighted publicly especially by Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur. The current cars are already the heaviest in Formula 1 history, but without countermeasures, the risk of further weight increase is real.
Heavier Hybrid System
The chassis and aerodynamic characteristics are still unknown, but the weight concern also arises simply by looking at the power unit. The increase in electric power from 120 to 350 kW will inevitably lead to an increase in weight of all components of the hybrid system to support the higher power outputs. The minimum weight of the battery pack will increase from 20 to 35 kg, while the MGU-K will rise from 7 to 16 kg. In addition, there will be another 4 kg for the mechanical coupling transmission between the electric motor and the engine shaft, offset by the removal of the MGU-H, whose current minimum weight is 4 kg. Overall, the weight of the hybrid part in 2026 will increase by 23 kg.
Despite its reduction in power, the internal combustion engine will also gain weight, remaining structurally the same as the current one. FIA has increased the minimum weight of pistons and connecting rods by 50 and 20 grams respectively, totaling 0.4 kg. Even the engine shaft regulated by the rules will be half a kilogram heavier. Combining the individual differences of the hybrid and thermal parts, a weight increase of about 24 kg is obtained.
However, the 2026 regulations also introduce new weight constraints that are currently absent. The turbocharger, for example, must adhere to a minimum weight of 12 kg, while the internal combustion engine and the turbocharger together cannot go below 130 kg.
Front Engine Concept Rejected
In total, the new minimum weight of the power unit will be 185 kg compared to the current 151 kg, resulting in a growth of 34 kg. For this reason, the idea of having an electric generator on the front axle has been discarded, which would have increased energy recovery during braking. According to Formula 1’s technical department estimates, two 130 kW electric generators mounted on the front would have added 18 kg, considering the differential and half-shafts.
In the scenario of a front electric motor, there was a discussion about limiting the rear motor to only 130 kW, as opposed to the chosen 350 kW, a solution that would have saved nearly 9 kg at the rear. Overall, the 4×4 configuration would have meant about 5 kg more. However, at that point, the rear electric power would have been lower, and to maintain the total 1000 horsepower, the internal combustion engine would have had to deliver well over 50% of the total power.
Risk of a Hundred Kilograms in Eight Years
The weight increase is doubly problematic. With the 34 kg added by the power unit, it becomes necessary to strengthen the chassis, suspension, and safety structures. For this reason, FIA, Formula 1, and teams are considering the possibility of shortening the car’s wheelbase to save weight from the chassis. Keeping the current platform intact is not feasible, as without countermeasures, the prospects are alarming.
Assuming that the 2026 Formula 1 power units are installed on the current cars without further modifications, the resulting minimum weight would rise to 832 kg. This would represent an increase of 70 kg compared to 2021, the last year of the previous generation of cars. However, the comparison is even more impactful if we take 2018 as a reference, the first year of the halo’s introduction, when the minimum weight was 734 kg. This would mean an increase of almost 100 kg in just eight years.
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