Tombazis looks to the future: “Electric has not grown as expected. We will no longer be hostages of car manufacturers”

Regardless of the – so far presumed – improvements introduced by the FIA to the 2026 regulations, there remains a strong sense that Formula 1’s new era has been built on a concept that is, at the very least, debatable.

The near-equal split of importance between electric power and the internal combustion engine within the power unit has already drawn criticism in the past, most notably from Christian Horner during his time as Red Bull team principal. More recently, Max Verstappen also stated that Formula 1 will not make significant progress until it moves away from this “50-50” concept.

The elephant in the room in F1

During the spring break, Formula 1 attempted to calm the situation, stressing that the regulatory changes were the result of collective work involving the FIA, drivers, teams and engine manufacturers.

However, the so-called elephant in the room – namely the increased importance of electric power – had not been addressed in depth. FIA Single-Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis has now tried to clarify the reasoning behind this direction, explaining that Formula 1 was almost forced into this choice back in 2022 due to broader automotive market pressures.

Tombazis’ comments

“The political landscape has changed. When we discussed the current regulations, the car manufacturers said they would never produce another internal combustion engine again,” the Greek engineer explained.

“The intention was to gradually phase out fossil fuels and transition entirely to electric power by a certain date, but that clearly has not happened. This is not to diminish the importance of electrification globally, but it has not materialised to the extent that was expected.”

Nikolas Tombazis appears to acknowledge that, with hindsight, a misjudgment may have been made. For this reason, Formula 1 must now define its future principles as soon as possible in order to regain a long-term strategic vision.

“We must protect the sport from the global macroeconomic situation. We cannot be held hostage by the decisions of car manufacturers on whether to participate in our sport or not. We want them to be involved, but we cannot find ourselves in a vulnerable position if they decide to leave.”

“We need to start discussions very soon about what kind of changes to introduce, because the development timelines for a power unit and everything else are quite long.”

Nikolas Tombazis’ reflections highlight a critical turning point in the governance of Formula 1. By acknowledging that the 2026 regulations were shaped by an automotive vision that hasn’t fully materialized, the FIA is signaling a desire to regain control of the sport’s technical identity. Moving forward, the goal is clear: maintain the presence of major manufacturers while ensuring that F1’s survival—and the quality of its racing—is no longer tied to the shifting tides of the global car market. the conversation is already shifting toward how to make the next generation of engines even more representative of the pinnacle of motorsport.