FIA President Reacts as Major F1 Rule Changes Take Effect

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has issued a statement as Formula 1 moves to finalize a significant reset of its power unit rules for 2027 and 2028. The update rebalances the internal combustion engine and battery contribution within the sport’s technical regulations to stabilize race performance.

From 2027, the prescribed energy split changes to 58:42 in favor of the ICE, replacing the 50:50 baseline that exposes cars to large power loss once battery deployment fades. The change follows sustained consultation between the FIA, teams, and manufacturers.

The plan then advances to a 60:40 split in 2028. To underpin that shift, permitted fuel flow to the ICE rises by 5% in 2027 and 13% in 2028, reducing battery stress and evening performance across stints.

The objectives are straightforward: cut the battery’s workload, limit the cliff in deployment, and improve competitive consistency. The update refines the power unit framework alongside ongoing sustainability targets and cost controls, without altering the direction of hybrid-era technology. Further background on the package sits within the FIA’s evolving power unit regulations.

The package heads to the World Motor Sport Council for sign-off on June 23 and is expected to pass with minimal resistance. That timeline reflects broad alignment following the latest governance steps within the regulatory agreement process.

On track, the biggest change targets the late-lap vulnerability created by aggressive battery usage. With a larger ICE contribution, drivers should face fewer extremes in deployment management, shifting strategy back toward race craft and tire economy.

Teams must recalibrate energy deployment maps, cooling targets, and packaging around the revised splits. The emphasis moves to software control, thermal robustness, and efficiency, with development focusing on extracting steady race-long performance rather than peak bursts.

Ben Sulayem characterizes the discussions as constructive, crediting teams and manufacturers for a collaborative approach. The intent is to protect the Championship’s competitive fabric while advancing technology and sustainability in practical steps.

The wider paddock focus now shifts to modeling and concept choices that anticipate these 2027 targets. Car architectures, cooling layouts, and race strategy tools will evolve as teams prepare for the next phase of hybrid-era competition.

Away from the regulatory detail, the news cycle also features off-track storylines, including an inadvertent information leak by Lewis Hamilton and recent challenges described by George Russell. Those threads sit separate to the rules process but shape the backdrop to F1’s immediate future.

Assuming approval, the revised splits and fuel-flow allowances will shape designs and race dynamics across 2027 and 2028. The expectation is a more consistent power profile, clearer strategic variance, and tighter battles deep into stints.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.