The 2022 Formula One season and the new era of the sport have just begun, but the new cycle of power unit starting from 2026 is a topic on the agenda also because there are only a few months left to define all the details regarding the new technical regulation. At stake there is also the entry into Formula 1 of the Volkswagen group with the Porsche and Audi brands ready to join respectively Red Bull and one of McLaren, Sauber or Aston Martin.
The sophisticated MGU-H will no longer be part of the power units, as Ferrari and Mercedes have already given their green light for this change, a step backwards that will significantly reduce costs. Mattia Binotto, however, stated that not everything has been defined and that there are still at least two issues to be solved, starting with a possible budget cap which could be available for the construction of the engines, but not only: “We are happy to be able to compete with brands like Porsche and Audi, but the aspect of the financial rules must be defined and then the idea of what it means to be a new participant, what benefits you should enjoy, and the one on the transfer of intellectual property which should not be possible. Time is running out, we must define everything by June” – Mattia Binotto as reported by today’s edition of the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, as reported by formulapassion.it.
The transfer of intellectual property is a specifically hot topic mainly due to Red Bull’s structure, as the Austrian team has acquired skills and know-how from Honda that Porsche could take advantage of. In addition, the Milton Keynes team is constantly hiring Mercedes engineers – around 50 engineers have been snatched from the Brixworth headquarters – and this could create a pool of technicians ready to put together the strengths and research supported by three giants of different automobiles in a single engine.
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