Wolff: 2026 F1 power unit discussions a joke

F1 will debut new power units in 2026 that will deliver power from an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and a hybrid system based on a 50/50 ratio while using sustainable fuels.

But recently, with the 2026 season looming, there have been discussions regarding the upcoming power unit regulations, as it seems the new engines will not deliver enough power on power-sensitive tracks, which brought about changes in the chassis regulations allowing for active aero to make cars more efficient on the straights to compensate for the lack of power.

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali, back in 2024, did not rule out the return to naturally aspirated engines running on sustainable fuels while dropping the electric component, while FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem called for the return of screaming V10 engines with sustainable fuels.

However, a meeting between stakeholders in Bahrain renewed the commitment to the 2026 engine regulations, but now it has emerged that a meeting for the F1 Commission in the week following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will discuss an option of reducing the level of battery deployment to avoid its depletion on the straights.

While Red Bull Racing were the first to voice their concern regarding the 2026 regulations after worrying figures from their early simulations emerged, Wolff ridiculed their claims, insisting they were in trouble with their new power unit program, Red Bull Powertrains.

But Red Bull boss Christian Horner insisted his team has not lobbied for the agenda of the upcoming F1 Commission meeting.

He said: "I think that this is something that we asked to be looked at two years ago, and it's not something that we've pushed to be on the agenda this week at all.

"The FIA have gone away and done their research, and I think what they want to desperately avoid is a lot of lifting and coasting in the grand prix itself, which is going to be not particularly good for the sport and hugely frustrating for the drivers.

"So, it's not something that we've lobbied for or asked for, and if they're doing it in the interest of the sport, then you've got to support it," Horner maintained.

But Wolff did not hold back when asked about the upcoming meeting; he said: "Reading the agenda of the F1 commission is almost as hilarious as reading some of the comments that I see on Twitter on American politics.

"I really want to protect ourselves and make no comment, but it's a joke. A week ago, there was an engine meeting, and then things like this end up on the agenda again," the Austrian added.

Aston Martin CEO and Team Principal Andy Cowell, who was once the head of Mercedes' engine program, weighed in. He said: "With Jeddah as an example, it's a long circuit with a fixed amount of energy to deploy, and so the derates are different from other shorter circuits, and that's a feature of a hybrid system.

"It'll be different. Is it bad? Not sure. We'll all have the same, won't we? So, the key thing is that everybody's got the same technical regulations."

As for McLaren boss Andrea Stella, whose team sources power units from Mercedes, he urged for calmness and responsibility in approaching this topic.

Stella said: "The principle I want to state very strongly is that it is the responsibility of all the stakeholders to make sure that the 2026 regulations are successful, because there's no point in teams competing with each other if we don't have a good sport.

"I think keeping the conversation open, such that we really go into the details considering overtaking, considering power deployment, considering power harvesting, everything that determines the quality of the product and therefore of the spectacle and therefore the health of the business, we should look into that, and we shouldn't say it's frozen.

"If we see that some things need to stay open, then I think we need to have this open mind and keep working on that," Stella concluded.

(Quotes from Motorsport.com)