FIA Approves Further Power Unit Regulation Tweaks for 2027 and Beyond
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has formally ratified changes to F1 power unit regulations for 2027 and 2028. The hybrid split will shift from the current near-50/50 balance to 58/42 in favour of the ICE in 2027 and then 60/40 by 2028. Fuel flow rates, pre-season testing, and several sporting rules were also updated.
What the WMSC approved
The FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) met in Macau on Tuesday for its mid-2026 conference, formally ratifying a package of changes to the F1 Sporting, Technical, and Financial Regulations covering the rest of 2026 and the 2027 and 2028 seasons.[1] The meeting served as the final legislative step for a set of power unit amendments that manufacturers, Formula One Management, and the FIA had first agreed in principle on 10 June.[5]
The power unit split is shifting back toward combustion
The headline change concerns the balance between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K). The 2026 season launched with a near-50/50 split between the two power sources, a ratio that quickly generated concerns about energy management behaviour on track.[3] The WMSC has now ratified a phased rebalancing: a 58/42 split favouring the ICE arrives in 2027, followed by a 60/40 split by 2028.[4]
To support the additional combustion output, fuel flow rates will rise by 5% in 2027 and by 13% in 2028, at which point ICE power output is set to reach 450 kW.[4] Maximum MGU-K power will reduce from 350 kW to 300 kW in standard conditions, while the Overtake Mode ceiling stays fixed at 350 kW and maximum regeneration capacity rises from 350 kW to 400 kW.[3] Because existing chassis were not designed with larger fuel tanks in mind, targeted operational measures including reduced reconnaissance laps at selected circuits and potential reductions of one or two race laps at specific venues will help manage fuel load.[3]
Additional 2026 and 2027 changes
Two 2026 safety updates were also approved at the Macau meeting. Boost Mode has been partially reintroduced for wet or low-visibility conditions, restricted to preventing a power reduction rather than increasing output, with the overtake function disabled in those same conditions.[1] Separately, the declaration of a Heat Hazard may now be split between a Sprint session and the main Grand Prix, rather than applying to the whole race weekend.[2]
Looking ahead to 2027, the WMSC ratified the first issue of the 2027 Technical Regulations, described as a broad package of structural, wording, and technical updates designed to improve clarity, consistency, and enforceability while incorporating lessons from the 2026 season.[1] Pre-season testing ahead of 2027 has also been extended from three days to four, reflecting the growing operational complexity of the current generation of cars.[3]
:::analysis The phased two-year approach to rebalancing ICE and electrical output is notable. By avoiding a single abrupt swing, the governing body gives power unit suppliers time to recalibrate maps and manage homologation obligations without forcing immediate chassis redesigns. The parallel decision to extend pre-season testing to four days acknowledges that the 2026 generation of cars has proved more demanding to set up than prior generations. The early-stage discussions around future power unit concepts, including V8 engines running on sustainable fuels, suggest the current framework may itself be a transitional phase rather than a settled long-term architecture. :::
Related reading
- [1]FIA's WMSC ratifies F1 regulatory changes for 2027 and 2028 (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [2]FIA confirms 2027 F1 power unit changes (autosport). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [3]FIA confirms 2027 F1 power unit changes (motorsport). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [4]FIA confirms latest F1 rule changes as major power unit change ratified (planetf1). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [5]FIA approves Max Verstappen's much-desired changes (gpblog). Accessed 2026-06-27.