In recent days, the possibility of reopening the regulatory locks that restrict the development of power units until 2026 has been a hot topic. The decision was taken unanimously, perhaps fueled by the emotional wave that followed Honda’s sudden announcement of bidding farewell to F1. This move probably granted an unexpected advantage (and a mocking one for Ferrari, Mercedes, and Alpine) to the Austrian team, as we analyzed in a previous article: read here.
During the F1 Commission meeting held a few hours before the first green light at the end of the pit lane of the Spa Francorchamps circuit, the matter was addressed at the end of an evaluation process that had been initiated in the previous weeks.
FIA technical delegates analyzed, based on data provided by the teams, the performances of the power units on the grid in the first half of 2023, reaching the conclusion that there is a considerable performance gap between the competitors. The Renault-Alpine V6 engine is the most delayed, and someone among those present proposed considering the possibility of allowing the French team to regain ground before the regulatory unfreezing in 2026.
Various strategies were discussed to respond to this situation, and the engine manufacturers authorized the Power Unit Advisory Committee to find and propose some solutions to the F1 Commission. This move, in the hopes of the French team, was intended to break the technical truce established last year. It seemed like an artificial measure to balance the grid values and assist those who have performed poorly.
The technicians of the International Federation reportedly found that the Losange engine suffers from an undefined deficit of horsepower compared to its competitors. And this is a key point that we will come back to later. Renault, in essence, had tried to make a rather unusual request in this era of stable regulations: the ability to modify the fuel flow meter limit to increase flow rate and, therefore, have more available power.
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The Commission, except for Red Bull, which revels in the acquired technical advantage and is perhaps unbeatable in the seasons before 2026, rejected a proposal that would effectively introduce the much-feared technical Balance of Performance (BoP). The leading dissenter was Toto Wolff, someone who is quite combative on the topic of power units, especially against Red Bull, which wants a revision of the electric-internal combustion power ratio for 2026.
“Entertainment must come after the sporting aspect,” the Viennese executive had said in recent days. “The reason why sports are so credible is that you just have to work hard to succeed. When we truly understand what performance is lacking, then we can discuss how many lifelines to grant to those who are falling behind. But touching any area like fuel flow or considering a Balance of Performance (BoP) is a disaster, a declaration of failure for F1. We shouldn’t even talk about it.”
Mercedes – Ferrari United against BoP for Engines
Wolff is not alone in his fight not to change things. By observing some statements from Frédéric Vasseur, it seems that a Maranello-Brackley alliance is forming, a block that does not intend to grant advantages to a team like the French one, which, if we want to say it all, is not so far from Ferrari and Mercedes in terms of performance. What would happen if the “help” also brought Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly into the mix behind Red Bull? This prospect concerns two team principals who are also closely connected in their personal lives.
The former head of Sauber’s sporting affairs explained that when F1 decided to freeze the engines, it also considered that in some extraordinary circumstances, exceptions could be made to support those who were struggling. Fred Vasseur, to justify the lack of a lifeline, made it known that he is not sure if Renault is so far behind the Italian engine in terms of power.
The manager from Draveil, therefore, strongly opposed the idea of triggering the balance of performance mechanism. It is a circle that closes and overlaps with what Toto Wolff described. There is no long-term alliance being envisioned, but there is certainly an affinity between Mercedes and Ferrari that can have a very strong impact, considering the total number of teams supplied, in meetings of the technical bodies responsible for deliberating on the rules of the future.
At this stage, Alpine seems to almost be a tool used by bigger and more solid entities to assert their own interests. Rejecting the aid plan for the French team indirectly opposes Red Bull’s concessional approach. The game for 2026, in fact, is being played to contain the empire of Milton Keynes.
Source: Diego Catalano for FUnoanalisitecnica
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