Formula 1 officials are expected to finalize further power unit regulation changes today during an online meeting with the FIA, teams, and manufacturers, building on the initial modifications tested during last week’s Miami Grand Prix. The discussion represents a continuation of efforts that began with an April 20 meeting and follows positive initial feedback from the Miami trial package, though drivers like Max Verstappen characterized the changes as merely a “tickle” requiring more substantial improvements.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the complexity of implementing mid-season regulation changes while praising the collaborative effort. “I think honestly, it’s never easy to do a change during the season, because as soon as you want to change something on the regulation, you are impacting the relative performance of the car,” Vasseur explained. “But I think for once that we were able to do, let’s say, good work, even if everybody wants to get more.”
The proposed long-term modifications for 2027 and 2028 include significant hardware changes that were deemed impractical for immediate implementation. Key elements under consideration involve increasing fuel flow rates, which would necessitate larger fuel tank capacities in future chassis designs, along with expanded battery systems to enhance electrical power deployment capabilities.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella outlined specific technical requirements for meaningful improvements, emphasizing the need for enhanced fuel flow to boost internal combustion engine output and increased electrical power harvesting capabilities. “They will have to do realistically with the fuel flow to increase the power from the internal combustion engine, and I think they might have to do with harvesting more power than the power you actually deploy,” Stella noted, suggesting potential increases from the current 350-kilowatt harvesting limit to 400 or 450 kilowatts.
Stella stressed that 2028 represents a more realistic timeline for major hardware modifications compared to 2027, citing the extended development periods required for battery enlargement and higher fuel flow accommodation. He urged the Formula 1 community to finalize these discussions before the summer break to ensure adequate preparation time for 2028 implementation, acknowledging that while current regulations can be optimized further, substantial hardware adjustments are necessary for meaningful progress.