Toto Wolff "ship has sailed" on 2026 engine tweaks

Power unit impasse looms for 2026 regulations

As the FIA admits its draft 2026 technical regulations need refining to boost performance, the possibility of tweaking engine parameters has emerged as a potential solution.

However, Formula 1's power unit manufacturers have firmly shut the door on any such changes, citing the advanced stage of their 2026 engine development programs.

Manufacturers resist engine tweaks

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was unequivocal in his stance:

"On the power unit side, the ship has sailed."

He explained that while some teams may feel at a disadvantage, others are satisfied with their progress, making consensus on changes virtually impossible.

Alpine's Bruno Famin echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the years of work already invested by manufacturers:

"We need to be careful because on the chassis side, almost nothing is done - because there is no regulation. But on the PU, we have two years of work."

Fuel flow limits a potential stumbling block

Among the areas under scrutiny are fuel flow limitations imposed to strike a 50-50 power split between the ICE and electrical components.

Increasing these limits could potentially boost overall power output and reduce reliance on battery energy.

However, with manufacturers entrenched in their positions, reaching unanimity on such changes appears highly unlikely.

FIA's Balancing Act and Red Bull's Optimism

While the FIA's Nikolas Tombazis expressed confidence in manufacturers' willingness to collaborate on "tweaks," Red Bull's Christian Horner struck a more optimistic tone, urging trust in the governing body to make the right calls for the sport's betterment:

"You have got to look at what is best for F1 at the end of the day and what will produce the best racing."

As the 2026 power unit regulations continue to take shape, the FIA faces a delicate balancing act between performance targets and the realities of manufacturer priorities.