F1 “backs away” towards electric, Tombazis defends the choice: “Most stable platform in 2027”

The FIA news for the 2027 F1 World Championship It certainly cannot be said that Nikolas Tombazis is not putting his face in the (much criticized and little understood, at least by old-school enthusiasts) revolution of the F1 regulations of 2026. The Greek engineer, who for some years has been responsible for all the FIA categories with single-seaters, had some time ago explained that he wanted to overcome the stalemate of the 50/50 power ratio between internal combustion engine and electric engine, adding that he did not wanting a “hostage federation of car manufacturers” for the technical modifications of the future. Said and done, given the communication – which came a bit by surprise on a normal Friday afternoon away from the GPs – of the additional 50 kW thanks to the greater flow of petrol for the combustion engine, and of the 50 kW “battery” less for 2027. Nikolas Tombazis speaks. This is how, without upsetting the regulations, next season we will arrive at a (perhaps more sportingly sustainable?) ratio of 60/40 between endothermic and electric horsepower. A decision that Tombazis defended in an interview with the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport: “We recognized that the original allocation (i.e. the 50/50 split, ed.) could have led to premature battery depletion under certain conditions. By giving the internal combustion engine a little more margin starting in 2027, we are creating a more stable platform for energy management.” Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily! “Our goal is not to weaken the hybrid concept – adds the former Ferrari technical director – but we must ensure that drivers can continue to attack on the straights without the system operating in a purely defensive way. We want to avoid a situation in which drivers have to lift their foot off the accelerator halfway down the straight just to save energy for the next lap (something that partly happened in Miami with Charles Leclerc in an attempt to defend himself from Oscar Piastri on the penultimate lap, ed.). The projects 2026 are largely now frozen, but the changes for 2027 give builders the time they need to optimize their projects without rushing.” “This is an evolutionary refinement, not a radical revision,” concludes the head of FIA regulations.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-05-15 16:00:00