FIA's WMSC Ratifies 2027 and 2028 Power Unit Rule Changes as British GP Weekend Looms
The FIA's World Motor Sport Council has ratified changes to F1 power unit regulations taking effect from 2027. Internal combustion engine output will rise to 420kW via a 5% fuel-flow increase, while maximum ERS deployment drops from 350kW to 300kW, shifting the power split from roughly 53/47 to 58/42 in favour of the ICE. A further step to 60/40 follows in 2028.
WMSC ratifies the new power unit framework
The FIA's World Motor Sport Council held its mid-2026 meeting at the FIA Conference in Macau and formally ratified changes to the Formula 1 power unit regulations for 2027 and 2028. [1] The decision closes out a weeks-long consultation process and gives all power unit manufacturers a clear technical target ahead of the 2027 season. [3]
What changes from 2027
The headline shift for 2027 is a 5% increase in fuel-flow rate, lifting ICE power output from 400 kW to 420 kW, while the maximum ERS deployment power falls from 350 kW to 300 kW. [3] That moves the effective power split from approximately 53/47 to 58/42 in favour of the internal combustion engine. [4] Overtake Mode remains pegged at 350 kW to preserve on-track passing capability, and the maximum harvesting limit rises from 250 kW to 375 kW per lap. [3]
The fuel-flow increase is modest enough that it does not require significant hardware changes for 2027, giving manufacturers a manageable transition window. [3] A larger 13% fuel-flow increase, pushing ICE output to 450 kW and achieving the full 60/40 split, is scheduled for 2028, when the maximum harvesting limit rises again to 400 kW. [4]
Background: why the rules are changing
The 2026 season launched with a near 50/50 hybrid split, and drivers raised concerns that the balance produced excessive lift-and-coast behaviour and an unnatural driving style on several circuits. [5] The step-change approach, moving to 58/42 in 2027 before committing to 60/40 in 2028, reflects a compromise between manufacturers who sought a faster rebalancing and those who flagged cost and lead-time pressures. [5]
:::analysis Rebalancing toward the ICE addresses driver workload complaints without scrapping the fundamental hybrid architecture introduced in 2026. The two-step timeline is pragmatic: a small fuel-flow increase in 2027 is achievable without a full redesign, whereas the 13% jump in 2028 requires more substantial preparation. Whether the revised split fully eliminates the energy-management burden at power-sensitive circuits remains to be seen once the 2027 cars hit the track.
:::
Additional regulatory updates
Alongside the power unit changes, the WMSC also approved updates to the 2026 Sporting, Technical and Financial Regulations. [1] On safety grounds, Boost Mode in wet conditions has been partially reinstated; it will now be permitted only to prevent power reduction when cars decelerate on straights, without increasing total output above normal levels, and the overtake function remains disabled in those conditions. [2] Separately, 2027 pre-season testing has been extended from three days to four, owing to the complexity of the current generation of cars. [2]
Related reading
- [1]FIA's WMSC ratifies F1 regulatory changes for 2027 and 2028 (formula1). Accessed 2026-07-03.
- [2]FIA confirms 2027 F1 power unit changes (autosport). Accessed 2026-07-03.
- [3]F1 power unit changes announced for 2027 and 2028 seasons (motorsport). Accessed 2026-07-03.
- [4]FIA confirms latest F1 rule changes as major power unit change ratified (planetf1). Accessed 2026-07-03.
- [5]F1 power unit regulations future confirmed after FIA announcement (motorsportweek). Accessed 2026-07-03.