The framework for the new rules package, which will chiefly drop the MGU-H and move to fully sustainable fuels, has been agreed for several weeks but was awaiting final approval.
Motorsport.com understands the delay was led by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem but the World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday approved the rules set.
Four “key pillars” have been outlined by the governing body as underpinning the package that has been devised as the “result of extensive research and development by the FIA” plus collaboration between current and potential new power unit manufacturers.
These pillars are “maintaining the spectacle”, whereby the current 1.6-litre V6 internal combustion engine specification with a reduced fuel rate will largely be carried over.
However, the complex and expensive Motor Generator Unit – Heat has been ditched as expected, which is believed to have been a prerequisite for Porsche and Audi to act on the interest of the Volkswagen Group.
A message of “environmental sustainability” also fits in with the automotive conglomerate’s demands as F1 will shift to fully sustainable fuel while increasing the electrical deployment of the hybrid powertrain up to 50% – equivalent to 350kW.
Financially sustainability will in theory be enforced via the introduced of a powertrain cost cap.
This comes into effect from 1 January 2023 to bring about both greater sporting and economic parity.
The headline numbers are for the period 2022-25, a cost cap of $95million and then $130m from 2026 onwards, although this excludes marketing, current generation PU activities and the supply of customer teams.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR22, Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW44, take their grid spots for the start
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Smaller breaches of the limit will be enforced by financial penalties and “minor sporting penalties”, while more serious infringements will be met with championship points deductions.
The final listed pillar to the new regulations is that they are “attractive to new power unit manufacturers”.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner discussed at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the summer break, that a lengthy process was still required to determine the suitability of Porsche and his team.
But government documents have already emerged that reveal a 50% buy-in of the race team from the Stuttgart marque in addition to the widely speculated powertrain partnership.
On the WMSC approval of the new rules, FIA president Sulayem, said: “The FIA continues to push forward on innovation and sustainability – across our entire motor sport portfolio – the 2026 Formula 1 Power Unit Regulations are the most high-profile example of that mission.
“The introduction of advanced PU technology along with synthetic sustainable fuels aligns with our objective of delivering benefits for road car users and meeting our objective of net zero carbon by 2030.
“Formula 1 is currently enjoying immense growth and we are confident these Regulations will build on the excitement our 2022 changes have produced.
“I want to thank all of the FIA management and technical staff involved in this process for their diligence and commitment in working together with all of our Formula 1 stakeholders to deliver this.
“I also want to thank our WMSC members for their consideration and approval of these regulations.”
F1 porpoising and roll hoop rules changes ratified by FIA
Wolff: Mercedes bounced “from depression to exuberance” in F1 2022
Grading F1’s 2022 drivers at half-term
Why few would blame Leclerc if he leaves Ferrari in future
The elements Ferrari must resolve to first save face, then win championships
Schumacher: People too quick to criticise in F1 these days
Haas Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher believes people should take more time before dishing out criticism, especially if they don’t have all the facts.
Sauber keen to “give the best to Alfa Romeo” amid Audi F1 links
Frederic Vasseur says that Sauber is focusing to “give the best to Alfa Romeo” through its Formula 1 partnership amid links to a possible takeover by Audi in the future.
Former F1 race director Masi set for top Supercars role
Former Formula 1 race director Michael Masi is set to become the new Chairman of the Supercars Commission in Australia.
Grading F1’s 2022 drivers at half-term
Over the first 13 races of Formula 1’s new ground effects era, Max Verstappen has surged into the lead in the world championship over Charles Leclerc. But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? We graded every driver based on their performances so far
Grading F1’s 2022 drivers at half-term
Over the first 13 races of Formula 1’s new ground effects era, Max Verstappen has surged into the lead in the world championship over Charles Leclerc. But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? We graded every driver based on their performances so far
The 10 stories to watch out for across the rest of the 2022 F1 season
It’s 13 down, nine to go as the Formula 1 teams pause for breath in the summer break. But what can we expect to happen over the next three months from Belgium to Abu Dhabi? Here’s the key storylines to keep an eye out for the rest of the 2022 season
Nicholas Latifi: The under-fire F1 driver fighting for his future
Personable, articulate and devoid of the usual racing driver airs and graces, Nicholas Latifi is the last Formula 1 driver you’d expect to receive death threats, but such was the toxic legacy of his part in last year’s explosive season finale. And now, as ALEX KALINAUCKAS explains, he faces a battle to keep his place on the F1 grid…
The strange tyre travails faced by F1’s past heroes
Modern grand prix drivers like to think the tyres they work with are unusually difficult and temperamental. But, says MAURICE HAMILTON, their predecessors faced many of the same challenges – and some even stranger…
The returning fan car revolution that could suit F1
Gordon Murray’s Brabham BT46B ‘fan car’ was Formula 1 engineering at perhaps its most outlandish. Now fan technology has been successfully utilised on the McMurtry Speirling at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, could it be adopted by grand prix racing once again?
Hamilton’s first experience of turning silver into gold
The seven-time F1 champion has been lumbered with a duff car before the 2022 Mercedes. Back in 2009, McLaren’s alchemists transformed the disastrous MP4-24. And now it’s happening again at his current team
Why few would blame Leclerc if he leaves Ferrari in future
OPINION: Ferrari’s numerous strategy blunders, as well as some of his own mistakes, have cost Charles Leclerc dearly in the 2022 Formula 1 title battle in the first half of the season. Though he is locked into a deal with Ferrari, few could blame Leclerc if he ultimately wanted to look elsewhere – just as Lewis Hamilton did with McLaren 10 years prior.
The other McLaren exile hoping to follow Perez’s path to a top F1 seat
After being ditched by McLaren earlier in his F1 career Sergio Perez fought his way back into a seat with a leading team. BEN EDWARDS thinks the same could be happening to another member of the current grid
