'Audi and Porsche are welcome to F1, but cannot be more important than Ferrari'

‘Audi and Porsche are welcome to F1, but cannot be more important than Ferrari’ – Mattia Binotto. Mattia Binotto on Audi and Porsche joining F1.

On Tuesday, August 16, 49 days later than expected, the FIA finally provided details about the technical, sporting and financial details relating to the new regulation dedicated to power units which will be used starting with the 2026 Formula 1 season. The current engines will change, there will no longer be the MGU element -H and the power supplied by the electrical part will be increased with a reduction of the internal combustion engine equal to 37% compared to what is still happening today through interventions on the pressure and on the turbocharging.

A regulation defined as ‘tailor-made’ for the brands of the Volkswagen group that have expressed their intention to enter Formula 1 starting from 2026, i.e. Audi and Porsche, the latter now one step away from formalizing the partnership with Red Bull in a combination that will see the internal combustion engine of the power unit built in Milton Keynes in the new engine division – formed by drawing significantly from the staff in the past at Mercedes – while Porsche will take care of the electrical part.

Mattia Binotto, Ferrari team principal, said he was not frightened by the arrival in Formula 1 of new giants of the automotive industry such as Audi and Porsche: “We are not afraid. But Ferrari has been there from the start. I think we know what is good for the future of Formula One. Our voice is an important one. Newcomers are welcome, but they cannot be more important than Ferrari” – underlined the Maranello team’s boss, when asked about Audi and Porsche joining the sport.

With regard to the long and difficult definition of the new engine regulation finally published a few days ago, Mattia Binotto underlined an important aspect: “We are negotiating the future of our business. This is the period between 2026 and 2030. We must also take into account the direction in which the automotive industry is moving – the Mattia Binotto explained, in a recent interview for German newspaper Auto Motor und Sport – it is right to take some time to get to the best result, or let’s say at the best compromise. Because in the end it will always be a compromise. There was a framework agreement that had already been voted on by the World Council. This framework agreement then had to be transformed into a regulation. In the meantime, the President of the FIA has also changed, a fact that has led to a further lengthening of the times. It wouldn’t have helped anyone if we had hastily made the wrong decisions.” – Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto concluded.