🚨 Formula 1's next engine regulations are set to introduce V8 turbo hybrid engines that are simplified and made less expensive compared to the existing rules. The stated aim of the new rules is to introduce lighter, more responsive cars, increased emphasis on driver skill, relevant technologies, reduced cost, to make it easier for new manufacturers to enter F1 and to continue with the sport's commitment to reducing emissions. This comes after criticism of the new engines introduced this year for their complexity and the way their design and operation has diminished the driving challenge of some of F1's best corners. What is the proposed engine? The engines used in F1 at the moment are 1.6-litre V6 turbos with a power split of 53-47 between the internal combustion engine and electrical components. This will be changed to 60-40 in two steps by 2028. The FIA document proposes a V8 engine with a capacity of between 2-2.3-litres with a smaller turbo running at reduced boost pressure and a less powerful hybrid system. The electrical motor would have a recovery capacity of 200kW compared to the current 350kW. The idea is for 100kW (134bhp) of this to be available at all times, with a further 100kW to be used for a push-to-pass or overtake mode. The rest of the total power output of in the region of 900bhp will be provided by the internal combustion engine. F1 will continue with fully sustainable fuels but with the ambition to make the requirements around them less complex and therefore much cheaper to produce. The aim is to cut a total of 80kg from the overall weight of the cars. What are the details? The fundamental framework of the proposal for the new engine's architecture is said to be basically acceptable to all the manufacturers. However, the details around the fundamentals of how the rules operate will need discussion. The document outlines two possible ways forward for the new rule set. One is aimed at minimising necessary adaptation - for example, a 2.1-litre V8 could be produced by simply adding two cylinders to the current 1.6-litre blocks and reducing the size of the turbo and MGU-K (hybrid motor). The other, more controversial, is to have an external manufacturer design and supply a baseline power-unit with a high degree of standardisation, on to which manufacturers could add a degree of customisation. However, insiders says the manufacturers are all aligned on wanting to design and build their own power-units and for engines to remain a performance differentiator. The companies who currently supply engines to F1 teams are Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi, Honda and Red Bull. Cadillac, which entered F1 this year with its own team, is planning to produce an engine to the new rules. There are two further arguments to steer away from the standardisation route: The first is that the reasons for it - to safeguard against manufacturers leaving the sport - is irrelevant as all six will be committed under the new rule set. The second is that the standardisation of electronics control units this season has led to a series of problems, such as at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia when cars were restricted to not much more than walking pace because of a software bug. The document outlines a proposal to cut the engine budget cap by 50% from the current level of $190m (£143m) per year. [bbc.com/sport/formula1/artic…]

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Helmut Marko backs bizarre AI venture to let the dead speak Former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has taken an unusual turn in his post-F1 career, investing in an AI venture designed to let people deliver messages from beyond the grave. ➡️ speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-h… #F1 #Formula1

🚨 The experiment by Red Bull with new brake discs in Austin has led to positive reactions within the team. Red Bull successfully tested a new version of the front brake discs, which distinguishes itself by a new surface pattern. The main goal of the new surface pattern is to keep the braking performance constant during the entire braking phase, from the first bite of the brakes to the end of the braking action. At the same time, it must ensure that the brakes remain effective throughout the race. In this way, an optimal friction surface between the brake disc and the brake pad is maintained and the chance of brake fade — the loss of braking force due to overheating — decreases significantly. The new brake discs appear to fully meet the requirements of Red Bull and Max Verstappen's engineers. Therefore, the team will also use them during the Mexican Grand Prix. [racingnews365.nl/red-bull-in…]

Max Verstappen on F1 changing "It’s just the nature of Formula 1. It has changed, already, four times now. Quite big changes. It’s a normal procedure in Formula 1, where you just have to adapt and learn to change your behavior of driving. That’s what you’ve done your whole life, so for me at least, it’s quite natural." [Surface]