(Motorsport-Total.com) – With the approval of the changes to the power units for 2027 by the Motorsport World Council (WMSC), a controversial clause was also added to the Formula 1 regulations: it allows the FIA to shorten the distance of individual Grands Prix by up to four laps.
Read more Nicolas Hamilton experiences firsthand what made his brother a legend
This unusual regulation became necessary because some teams resisted adapting their chassis for cost reasons to accommodate additional kilograms of fuel. Only in this way can the planned redistribution between combustion and electric drive of the current power units work at all in the coming season.
In 2027, the performance of the combustion engine will increase by 20 kW (around 30 hp) thanks to a five percent increase in fuel flow, while the power of the MGU-K will simultaneously decrease by 50 kW.
However, to achieve the targeted 60/40 ratio between combustion and electric power, a further step will be necessary in 2028. Then the combustion engine will gain another 30 kW through a 13 percent increase in flow.
In addition, secondary interventions are planned on the electric side: energy recovery in the recuperation phase will increase to up to 400 kW – 50 kW more than the current value. Furthermore, the maximum delta of battery energy usage will be raised to five MJ, which corresponds to an increase of 25 percent compared to today’s configuration.
These tweaks are intended not only to help recover more energy and consume it more slowly but also to reduce dependence on the electric component.
Teams resist car adaptation
That some manufacturers did not want a radical change in the regulations with an immediate switch to the 60/40 ratio had solid reasons. On the one hand, there was a political dimension related to the funds already invested in these power units. On the other hand, an economic factor played a role for all those teams that are already behind and have to work hard to close the gap to the front.
On the financial side, it was decided to grant the teams an additional three million US dollars within the budget cap for both 2027 and 2028.
Formula 1 fails: These rule changes were a flop
Another major point of discussion concerned the length of the races. An increase in fuel flow ultimately also means higher fuel consumption. However, not all teams were willing to completely redesign their chassis to enlarge the tank and accommodate the extra kilos – mainly for cost reasons.
Read more Cadillac in «Stars and Stripes»: Why the team is now becoming patriotic
Some racing teams want to keep the current monocoque for the 2027 season as well, to use their resources for other areas of the car they consider more important. The problem: at some races – especially where the combustion engine weighs heavily or the possibilities for energy recovery are limited – there was a concrete risk that the cars would run out of fuel without these additional kilos of fuel.
The rule disappears again in 2028
For this reason, the teams, as had leaked for several weeks, agreed on a compromise: certain world championship races will be shortened by a few laps so that these teams can leave their chassis unchanged. This point has now been officially included in the latest draft of the regulations for 2027.
Formula 1 quiz
How many lead laps did the Osella team drive in Formula 1?
Test yourself now in the Formula 1 quiz and compare yourself with other users
It is stipulated there that the race control has the authority to shorten the race distance in the year after next by up to four laps. This exception disappears again in 2028. Then the teams will have to modify the chassis anyway to create the necessary space for the 13 percent increase in fuel flow.
The association will provide the teams with preliminary information about the duration of the race sessions for all world championship events by the date of approval of the 2027 race calendar. The final confirmation of the race distance for each event will then be communicated to the teams at least four weeks before the start of the respective weekend.
Number of laps prescribed before the start
However, the innovations in the regulations are not limited to fuel management during the race but also concern the procedures before the start – more precisely, when the drivers leave the pit lane to go to the starting grid. At this moment, teams traditionally use these laps to check the vehicle balance before the race and to perform start exercises at the end of the pit lane.
Currently, there is no upper limit for the number of these reconnaissance laps before taking the starting grid – provided that the pit lane is left within the ten-minute window before it closes.
The only exception concerns the sprint, where only a single lap is allowed to speed up the process. For 2027, the FIA can also prescribe a maximum number of laps before the start for the main races. The goal: to limit consumption and ensure that the teams have the amount of fuel required for the race remaining in the tank.
Read more Formula 1 tires 2026: Which compounds at which Grand Prix?