Vettel: Formula 1 heading in wrong direction with 2026 Power Units

On paper, the new Formula 1 rules are the most climate-friendly in the sport’s history. Almost 50 percent of the performance will be provided electrically, while the combustion element will run on climate-neutral fuel. That should align with Vettel’s environmental activism, but the four-time World Champion is not convinced.

Four-time World Champion, Vettel fears Formula 1 is making the same misstep as when hybrid Power Units were introduced 11 years ago: “The 2014 regulations were good in principle. The idea behind it was right. But the implementation was not. It cost far too much money and brought nothing to the series.”

The current Power Units are over 50 percent efficient, the most efficient ever built, but Vettel believes they are too complicated to have any real-world use. “They are abandoning innovative solutions from the previous engine regulations with the aim of making it less expensive.

"That is supposed to attract new manufacturers. The electric component is generally good, and it is necessary for mobility. But on the road they are already further ahead with 100 percent electromobility, due to its unbeatable efficiency," explained the former Aston Martin, Ferrari and Red Bull driver.

Battery-powered racing has not convinced Vettel either, with Formula E failing to establish itself as a mainstream series. He is blunt: “Motorsport has different requirement profiles. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans they are completely different than in Formula 1 or in the junior series. Either way, it doesn’t work with fully electric Power Units.”

The 38-year-old is also unconvinced by the specifics of the new rules: “The new regulations are not entirely clear to me yet. Regenerating energy is super, but to do that only on the rear axle and to ignore the front axle makes no sense to me.”

Vettel supports climate-neutral synthetic fuels but warns of another technological arms race: “I think climate-neutral fuels are good, because there is a need for them in the world outside of motorsport. For the many vehicles already on the road.

"For shipping and aviation. What you have to be careful about is the origin of these fuels. If you unleash a typical Formula 1 development race on that, it can quickly go in the wrong direction, as it did in 2014," Vettel said during an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.

Vettel has also renewed calls for lighter cars, both for performance and efficiency: “They are going a little bit in that direction now, but it’s only a drop in the ocean. The cars are far too heavy. They should actually be 200 kilograms lighter.”

For the German, the sport must never forget its duty to the fans: “From a sporting perspective the competition must be as close as possible without damaging the spirit of Formula 1. And people must still be able to afford the sport. A Grand Prix is a big event with a lot of spectators.

"With that I can address many new topics. How do I bring the spectators to the track and back again? What do people consume at the track? Where do things come from? What do they contribute to making it a great event?” he added.

Vettel insists Formula 1 should not exist only for a handful of carmakers. He argues the sport must remain technically challenging, climate-neutral, cost-manageable and exciting: “I was still able to experience how a V10 feels and sounds. And that is part of the show and the Formula 1 experience. In the past you didn’t just go to the track to see who wins. You also wanted to soak up all the fascination around it.”

He believes even the next generation can be captured by the spectacle: “I do believe that a generation is growing up for whom the V10 sound is no longer as important as it was for us, but who could still be enthusiastic about it. The question is whether the engine formula has to be relevant for mass production. I don’t think so.”

For Vettel, the focus of Formula 1 has shifted irreversibly: “It will move away from this transfer and more towards entertainment. You should stick to what you know, but it must be done better for the sake of the environment.

"The shoe I buy must be made in such a way that it does not harm the environment and that its production ensures fair working conditions. The same applies to cars and motorsport events. It would be a shame if the motorsport we know were to cease to exist. That it changes is quite normal," concluded Vettel.