(Motorsport-Total.com) – The Formula 1 Commission meeting on Tuesday has not yet reached a consensus on the proposed 60:40 split for the power unit for next season. The plan is to bring the internal combustion engine somewhat more into focus again.
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Before the Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA announced a “fundamental agreement” regarding engine changes for 2027, but in Montreal it became clear that the concrete implementation behind the scenes is politically complex.
On the chassis side, several team principals signaled that possible concerns can be addressed – for example, for teams that want to carry over their chassis into next year.
There is sufficient support in this context to shorten some Grands Prix by a few laps and at the same time limit the number of laps in the starting grid before the race to one per driver.
On the power unit side, however, the situation is significantly more complicated. Changes to fuel flow initially raise the question of what the exact path would look like – with several technical options.
Secondly, additional hardware adjustments could be required, with Honda pointing out that some of these changes would affect reliability.
The topic remains sensitive for several engine manufacturers for different reasons.
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Ferrari has been focusing heavily behind the scenes on ADUO for several weeks, while Audi and Honda are mainly concerned about the additional investments that possible adjustments would require.
Changes require a supermajority among the engine manufacturers. Four of the six manufacturers must therefore agree, with General Motors also having voting rights. It is assumed that the US company would align itself with its current engine partner Ferrari.
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Several parties emphasized in Canada that they want clarity on possible engine changes as soon as possible, but no breakthrough has been achieved before the Monaco Grand Prix, which shows the political complexity of the plan that several drivers have publicly supported, including Max Verstappen.
Additional winter test day and TPC changes decided
The Formula 1 Commission meeting on Tuesday produced only a handful of minor changes, including slight adjustments to aerodynamic and bodywork components.
In addition, the proposal to extend the winter tests for the upcoming season by one day from three to four was approved. The venue has not yet been determined. Based on past years, Bahrain is considered the most likely candidate, although this will depend on developments in the Middle East.
This year, Formula 1 completed six official winter test days in Bahrain, in addition to an earlier shakedown week in Barcelona. This extensive program was a one-time measure due to the major regulation changes.
Finally, the commission approved changes to the rules for the “Testing of Previous Cars” (TPC). These are related to concerns that some teams might use TPC tests not only to give young drivers additional mileage but also to gain insights that could be advantageous in the future.
Therefore, it was decided to restrict TPC tests to tracks that will host a Grand Prix in the near future to ensure that such tests are not used for purposes other than additional track time for young drivers.
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