Giving more power to the internal combustion engine: why it is not feasible immediately

The first three races of the new technical era have raised questions about the sustainability of the 50:50 balance between thermal and electrical power in Formula 1’s 2026 power units.

While there are discussions about potentially reducing the hybrid contribution, increasing the output of the V6 internal combustion engine is far from straightforward. Despite appearances, the new engines operate differently from their predecessors and would require multiple modifications to unlock additional performance.

The fuel flow idea

One of the key changes introduced by the 2026 technical regulations is the reduction of fuel flow by approximately 30%. Increasing it again would undoubtedly help release more power, but it would also trigger a series of secondary changes.

For example, the total amount of fuel required to complete a Grand Prix would increase, raising the need for a larger fuel tank, with all the associated packaging challenges that come with it.

Burning more fuel would also require more air, meaning further adjustments to the turbocharger system would be necessary. Last but not least, increasing the output of the combustion engine would raise both thermal and mechanical stresses beyond what was originally considered during the design phase.

For these reasons, increasing fuel flow during the season would be extremely difficult, as teams would need sufficient time to adapt their designs and systems.

The combustion engine has changed

More broadly, the fact that the new power units retain the same architecture and displacement as previous generations has led to the mistaken belief that they are essentially identical. In reality, several key changes have significantly altered the combustion process.

The reduction of the compression ratio from 18:1 to 16:1 and the limitation to a single spark ignition event — compared to up to five in previous engines — are just some of the modifications that have resulted in slower combustion compared to the ultra-fast burn of earlier power units.

Unlike the electrical side of the power unit, it is therefore not possible to simply adjust a setting and instantly increase the output of the V6 engine.

Recovering performance from the internal combustion engine is possible, but not in the short term. This is why any decisions regarding potential changes will need to be made as soon as possible if Formula 1 wishes to address the current balance between hybrid and thermal power.