Breaking news
Formula 1
Renault: 2026 engines will be F1's "next battlefield"
Renault Formula 1 team boss Cyril Abiteboul says that 2026 power unit regulations will be the "next battlefield" as alternative proposals are discussed over the next couple of years.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Jun 15, 2020, 12:52 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The current hybrid V6 regulations are set in stone until 2025, and the consensus is that the next generation of engines should offer manufacturers a more affordable format, with a strong sustainable element.
F1 managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn noted last week that all options are still possible for the 2026 regulations, while also conceding that no new manufacturers will enter the championship before then.
Abiteboul says recent tweaks to the current power unit rules are a good step towards saving money, and stressed that the 2026 regulations should go further.
"There is probably more work to be done on the power unit side," he told Motorsport.com.
"We've contained the arms race on power unit development a bit by limiting the number of new homologations per year, and by limiting further the number of dyno hours.
"It's good, but it's still bloody expensive to maintain and operate these engines.
"The next step is to have a good look at what can be done in order to make sure that the next generation of power unit is a more economic sell."
Read Also:
- What was behind F1's latest engine technical directive push
- FIA further clamps down on F1 engine tricks
Abiteboul says that Renault is studying possible formats for the future rules.
"We're starting to think about what we'd like at least in terms of objectives for the sport. I've mentioned one as probably the most important, the economical sustainability of the next power unit programme, because clearly the current one is very difficult.
"The next thing we need to think about is the technology involved.
"We see the pace at which electrification is gaining everywhere around the world, and therefore we need to think very hard about what that means for F1, what that means in the context of racing, what that means in the context of some parallel co-existence with Formula E.
"We need to think about that, as it's the next battlefield, in my opinion.
"I think we'd like to have the big principle of the engine agreed for 2021 or 2022, so that development can start in 2023. That's the sort of macro planning we have in mind."
Abiteboul downplayed suggestions that removing the MGU-H from the current V6 hybrid would be a simple solution.
"We have the MGU-H for the fuel efficiency of the engine. Are we prepared to say that we will lose something like 20-30% of fuel efficiency?
"I don't see us carrying more fuel, because we already know that the cars are even heavier in 2022.
"We are talking about another 50kgs of fuel if we remove the MGU-H in order to have the same sort of energy density.
"It's a very difficult equation. With the prospect of the cars not being lighter I think it will be difficult to remove that device if we want to get to the same level of sustainable power.
"You can have big power, for sure, but if you want to have sustainable power which is F1, it's difficult to do without that component."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Physical forces "a challenge" on F1 return, says Norris
Next article China offered Formula 1 double-header for 2020
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 10, 2024
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 10, 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 10, 2024
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Latest news
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
5 h
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe