Parc Ferme: Formula 1’s PU Mess

Blah, Blah... The F1 commission met last week to discuss two burning, but related issues regarding the PU future. True to the form of any committee, they accepted that a “toilet door” was required, but no, they could not agree on the size.

In this instance, the “toilet door” was a mechanism under the new regulations to allow underperforming F1 PU manufacturers to catch up.

Next year, two new PU providers will join the incumbent F1 party – Audi and Red Bull Power Trains. No prizes for guessing who the most concerned parties are on the catch-up part of the discussion. The absence of such a legal device was, in part, the reason for Renault’s F1 PU exit. No one else wants to suffer that ignominy.

However, the second PU issue under discussion highlighted why this needs to happen sooner rather than later. It concerns restricting the maximum amount of electrical energy allowed to be deployed in a race, or, if you prefer, the amount of water used for the flush.

The move has been tabled to avoid cars running out of power down the straights at certain circuits. For those who are not aware of the implications, it would lead to some drivers having to lift and coast halfway down the straight.

Much in the way of waiting for the cistern to refill so that you can finish the job, while your competitor next door just pulls and leaves. Such a scenario is an anathema and is everything F1 is not and should not be.

In the Bahrain meeting, Mercedes, Audi and Honda made it clear that rules should stand as they are, with the lack of, or possession of enough “water” acting as a differentiator. Notable by its absence from this triumvirate was Red Bull Powertrains. One presumes that despite the mountain of money invested, Red Bull feels it could come up short.

Potentially, this lack of confidence could precipitate a separation between the team and Max Verstappen. Out of all the manufacturers, it seems Toto Wolff is the most vocally enthusiastic about keeping the new regulations as they are.

Therefore, we can presume he feels Mercedes will have a competitive advantage, which is why the team is currently the bookie’s favourite destination for Verstappen, should he leave.

A new hope or false dawn? F1 Supremo—Stefano Domenicali announced this week that the new Concorde agreement allows F1 to move away from tactics (placating egos and partisan concerns) and take a more strategic approach.

A couple of weeks earlier, Parc Ferme made the case for the return of ICE PUs. Psst, Stefano, here’s your chance, you know it makes sense. With barely more than six months before the 2026 kicks off, it's time to act and flush this mess down the toilet.