Formula 1 continues to question its own technical future and, perhaps more than ever, the debate surrounding power units is creating deep divisions between drivers, manufacturers and the FIA. Comments made by Max Verstappen in the Montreal paddock have once again pushed this growing split to the centre of the conversation: on one side are those who want to reduce the role of electric power, while on the other are those who still believe in the current regulatory philosophy.
Max Verstappen wants a less electric Formula 1
The four-time Red Bull world champion has made no secret of his support for the possible technical revisions that the FIA and other stakeholders are reportedly evaluating for 2027. The idea, which is becoming increasingly more concrete, would move away from the planned 50/50 balance between internal combustion and electric power in the next-generation power units, shifting instead toward a setup closer to a 60/40 split in favour of the combustion engine.
From Max Verstappen’s perspective, this would not simply be a sensible adjustment, but something close to a necessity if Formula 1 wants to improve the overall quality of the racing product.
“I just want a good product in Formula 1, and this will definitely improve the product,” the Dutch driver explained.
Behind that position lies a view Max Verstappen has held for some time. The Red Bull driver has never shown particular enthusiasm for the more extreme evolution of hybrid technology and, in recent months, has repeatedly suggested that modern Formula 1 cars have lost some of their natural driving feel. In his view, reducing the weight of the electric component would help restore a more authentic character to the category, while also making the driving experience more rewarding from the cockpit.
Ferrari pushes back against reducing the electric component
The more interesting element, however, is that this vision clashes directly with Ferrari’s own position. In Maranello, the thinking appears to be completely different. Ferrari continues to believe in the original technical philosophy behind the next-generation power units and appears determined to defend the project as it was initially conceived.
This stance is also consistent with what has emerged in recent hours. The Scuderia believes it can improve its own competitiveness by working within the existing balance between combustion and electric power, rather than rewriting the fundamental concept behind the regulations.
It is a major philosophical divergence. Max Verstappen sees the proposed regulatory shift as a return to a more natural Formula 1 formula; Ferrari, by contrast, sees the risk of destabilising a technical framework that has already been clearly defined and into which multiple manufacturers have invested enormous resources.
It is no coincidence that Audi also appears to be leaning in the same direction. As Mattia Binotto recently suggested, the German manufacturer is also expected to defend the current regulatory structure. Audi’s Formula 1 entry has been built specifically around this new generation of hybrid power units, and a radical change just months before the start of the new technical cycle would risk disrupting industrial planning and engineering assumptions that are already deeply embedded.
A political battle is taking shape behind the technical debate
As a result, this issue inevitably carries significant political weight. Both the FIA, based at Place de la Concorde, and Formula One Management appeared to be open to supporting a regulatory revision aimed at reducing electric dependency and addressing some of the limitations identified in simulations of the future cars.
However, potential resistance from Ferrari and Audi could make that path far more complicated.
The result is a Formula 1 divided between two sharply contrasting visions. On one side are those who want to restore the internal combustion engine to the centre of the technical formula in order to improve racing spectacle, drivability and reduce the heavy energy management currently required. On the other are those who believe the current hybrid balance should be strengthened rather than dismantled.
Behind this technical argument, something even more significant is unfolding: a battle over what Formula 1 should truly become in the years ahead.
The technical standoff between Max Verstappen’s purist vision and Ferrari’s corporate commitment therefore highlights the immense friction defining modern Formula 1 governance. When an elite driver demands a return to combustion-dominant power units to improve the on-track spectacle and driveability, his priorities naturally clash with the long-term automotive roadmaps of major manufacturers who require heavy electrification to justify their massive financial investments. With Audi and Ferrari standing firm against late-stage design alterations to protect their development cycles, the FIA faces a delicate political tightrope to prevent a complete gridlock. As the sport moves deeper into this regulatory transition, finding a middle ground that satisfies the competitive desires of the drivers while honoring the commercial stability of its biggest teams will completely dictate whether the next generation of machinery delivers true racing magic or a diluted technical compromise.
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