One of the less-publicized changes included in the FIA’s 2027 Formula 1 regulations concerns the allocation of Power Unit components. While it had originally been planned that teams would return to using just three internal combustion engines and three turbochargers per season from 2027 onward, the latest version of the regulations instead introduces additional flexibility by allowing one extra unit for every major Power Unit component.
The 2027 rulebook contains several important changes that we will explore in greater detail over the coming weeks. We have already seen how, in order to reduce the need for costly chassis modifications for teams that prefer to focus their resources elsewhere, certain Grands Prix next season may be shortened by up to four laps compared to their original race distance. The FIA has also reduced the number of laps completed before the official start procedure on the grid.
This decision will allow teams to avoid increasing fuel tank capacity at circuits where the additional fuel required by the higher fuel flow rate would, at least on paper, have made it impossible to complete the race with the same fuel reserves. However, the 2027 regulations include many more changes, and one of the most significant concerns the number of engines each team will be permitted to use.
Initially, the regulations already planned for this year called for teams to be limited to just three internal combustion engines and three turbochargers, while the control electronics, MGU-K and battery were to be restricted to only two units each per season. However, a regulatory appendix was later introduced, granting teams the opportunity to use one additional unit for every component exclusively for this season, effectively increasing the allocation to four internal combustion engines and four turbochargers.
With the latest draft of the regulations, however, the FIA has decided to extend this additional allocation to both the 2027 and 2028 Formula 1 seasons, when the new generation of Power Units will be introduced. Since these years mark the beginning of a completely new technical cycle, the governing body has chosen to provide teams with greater operational flexibility by allowing one extra component across the entire Power Unit package.
As a result, each team will be allowed to use four internal combustion engines, four turbochargers and four exhaust systems during the season. In addition, teams will have access to three batteries, three control electronics units and three MGU-K systems. This represents a significant increase in flexibility throughout the championship, particularly when it comes to rotating components between race weekends and managing long-term reliability.
It is also important to remember that the new regulations will place greater demands on the internal combustion engine, even though the transition will be gradual as Formula 1 moves toward the planned 60/40 split between electrical and thermal power by 2028. The progressive nature of this change is intended to help manufacturers adapt while maintaining reliability throughout the early years of the new engine formula.
This additional flexibility is also expected to have a direct impact on each team’s season-long strategy. Manufacturers planning a more aggressive Power Unit development programme will be able to schedule component rotations more effectively, introducing upgraded specifications at key moments during the championship without immediately risking grid penalties. In an era where reliability continues to play a decisive role—as this season has already demonstrated—having an extra allocation for every major Power Unit component could prove to be a valuable advantage in balancing performance, development and risk management over the course of the campaign.
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