Formula 1 teams have made no secret about wanting further analysis on the impact of the new 2026 power units, stemming from the increased reliance on batteries. The fear is that the 50/50 split between the combustion and electric power could lead to unwanted situations, where drivers would have to lift on a long straight to further charge the battery for more power. Red Bull has been the most vocal about the plans, saying that F1 needs to "pay urgent attention before it's too late" with the regulations. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has already indicated that there will be "zero chance" of the 2026 engine regulations changing . FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also emphasises that such a thing is not going to happen. Minimal changes would still be possible, but otherwise the 2026 engines will be as the rules now prescribe. "We have to take a step, we have to be brave," President Ben Sulayem told media, including RacingNews365 . "We need to stand open and move forward. It is normal for there to be resistance, but now Audi is there. Technology develops every day, so small changes, such as weight or new material, can always be done. "No one will drop out of that. We make sure we keep Audi on board. We have invested a lot of time and effort to get them to the sport and to spark Porsche's interest. No, this is not going to happen. To do something, and then change it again, it would be unfair."
Important to attract OEMs
The FIA President is keen to keep Audi in F1 and attract other OEM manufacturers, including General Motors. The American outfit has indicated that it wants to be at the start of the F1 season under Cadillac with its own engines in 2028, with a potential link up to the Andretti F1 entry should it be approved. "The new engine is our responsibility. The FIA was already working on it before my time as President. I will always be grateful to our technical department and I will always show respect for them. When we agreed on the rules, the engine suppliers also agreed," he added. "If we hadn't done that, Audi or Porsche would have shown no interest, just like all other parties. You have to be open to change, because if you don't and keep everyone in their comfort zone, then no new teams will join."
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