Scuderia Ferrari and Mercedes are not trying to delay the confirmation of the new powe unit regulations for the 2026 Formula One championship in order to make things difficult for Audi and Porsche.
The two Volkswagen Group brands are expected to enter the sport when the new rules will be introduced. However, the final version of the new regulation has not been officially announced.
So far, a short statement from Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess during a press conference a few months ago is as far as the company have gone, with no other specific details provided about how Porsche or Audi plan on joining Formula One in 2026, as new teams or through partnerships with current teams.
At the same time, the wait goes on to learn what changes will be made for Formula 1’s new engine regulations, after a lot of debate and negotiations between current manufacturers, possible new manufacturers and Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA.
Last year, the FIA announced that from 2026, the new generation of Formula1 power units is set to be based on four key aspects:
– Retaining the 1.6-litre V6 engine
– Increasing electrical power to 350kW
– Eliminating the MGU-H
– Introducing a power unit cost cap
Almost six months later, further details were confirmed, in tandem with planned updates to the aerodynamic rules.
But the wait cannot last long, as Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto strongly denied that the current situation is caused by Ferrari and Mercedes attempting to create problems for new entrants.
“I didn’t hear those rumours, but we are very positive [about] Audi and Porsche joining Formula 1,” Mattia Binotto said – “We are very positive because it’s great for F1, it’s great having more manufacturers and it’s great to have the Volkswagen Group within our business and our Formula 1 racing championship.”
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The Ferrari boss then pointed out to the “compromises” made by current manufacturers in order to help Porsche and Audi enter the sport:
“I think we’ve done whatever we could, and tried to adapt, to make sure that [Audi and Porsche] were happy. We removed the MGU-H and we did it only to try to help them join F1, and believe that for us, removing the H is something which is not maybe the best choice. It’s a technology that we know pretty well, it’s a very high-efficiency technology, which is great for F1, so I think that overall, again, we are very positive and constructive.” – he explained.
Mattia Binotto continued: “Why is it taking so long? Because I think it’s time which is required to do things properly and, simply, we are not ready right now. There are still open points and those open points need to be tackled and discussed and agreed.” – the Ferrari boss concluded.
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