Will Formula 1 adopt a 60:40 power split in 2027?
At the beginning of May, the FIA and Formula One Management announced that an agreement had been reached with Formula 1 teams and power unit manufacturers regarding a package of changes for the 2027 regulations. The proposal would shift the balance between internal combustion and electric power from the current 54:46 ratio to 60:40.
In the weeks that followed, however, concerns began to emerge from several manufacturers, particularly Ferrari and Audi. Discussions intensified around the most sensitive aspects of the proposal, including the potential increase in development costs and the possible weakening of the ADUO mechanism, all while manufacturers are already facing the challenge of designing an entirely new generation of power units.
A compromise gains momentum to convince Ferrari
According to a report from Auto, Motor und Sport, the Monaco Grand Prix weekend could prove decisive in finding common ground between the FIA, Formula One Management and the manufacturers that remain most sceptical about the proposed changes, namely Ferrari and Audi.
The FIA’s original proposal called for a 13% increase in fuel flow, a measure designed to provide the internal combustion engine with an additional 68 horsepower while simultaneously reducing electric power output by 50 kW.
The latest compromise under discussion, according to the German publication, would instead involve a more modest 5% increase in fuel flow. Such a change would still be sufficient to significantly reduce the need for lift-and-coast driving and limit clipping, two of the major concerns associated with the current concept.
In addition, Audi reportedly believes that the aerodynamic changes being considered for 2027 could further help achieve the intended objectives. Among the ideas under discussion is a reduction in overall downforce of approximately 10%, a move that would ease energy demands and improve the balance of the new regulations.
Under this compromise scenario, manufacturers would not be required to develop completely new engines, meaning the ADUO system could remain in the form originally agreed at the start of 2026. It would also avoid the need for major chassis redesigns, another key sticking point in the negotiations.
The final deadline for approving the 2027 regulation changes is set for June 14. The proposal requires a qualified majority of four votes out of six from the power unit manufacturers’ committee, which explains why Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem are reportedly pushing hard to secure a positive resolution to the ongoing debate.
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