Criticism of the power units has overshadowed everything, but Nikolas Tombazis believes the 2026 chassis rules are a step forward. The FIA is targeting further weight reduction under F1’s next regulations
Criticism of the power units has overshadowed everything, but Nikolas Tombazis believes the 2026 chassis rules are a step forward. The FIA is targeting further weight reduction under F1’s next regulations
They are never going to switch to full electric vehicles so the ICE engine stays. Unless they stop racing under FIA. Since FormulaE holds the exclusive license for open wheel EV racing. Also in Gen 4 FE cars the battery alone weighs 300+ kg.
As I’ve explained in another comment, the FIA could get rid of prescribing the PU and let teams come up with whatever tech they want. Teams with financial ties to oil states will absolutely stay with ICE, so that F1 wouldn’t be fully electric in the first place.
I know but the rear and front axle motors are much lighter than F1’s ICE. Also, FE is mostly a spec series. Battery spec was chosen with affordability in mind. They don’t use the latest tech and they don’t use battery swapping (that would mean teams have to buy more batteries).
Even a theoretical fully electric F1 would still be very different from FE, just like F1 is very different from WEC hypercars, even though nominally both are hybrid.