Domenicali calls for urgent decision on future F1 engine regulations

The push for a new engine era

Formula 1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali has issued a clear directive: the sport must reach a consensus on its future power unit regulations within this calendar year. With the 2026 technical cycle now underway, Domenicali is emphasizing the need for proactive planning to avoid being backed into a corner by the sport’s notoriously long development lead times.

“We cannot lose too much time because time is passing so quickly,” Domenicali stated. “We need to be robust enough to allow us not to be in a corner, we need to decide as soon as possible.”

Balancing innovation and respect for investment

“In this moment, to have a manufacturer that invests in Formula 1 is something incredible, which deserves our total respect,” he noted. “Because in this context, you don't want to take that for granted.”

The current governance agreements are set to expire at the end of 2030. According to Domenicali, the path forward involves close collaboration with the FIA to determine the next set of regulations, with the question of whether to anticipate those changes remaining a key part of upcoming discussions.

A return to simplicity and performance

There is a growing consensus within the paddock that the future of F1, from 2031 onwards, may lean toward a formula reminiscent of the pre-2014 era: one featuring more cylinders and a simplified hybrid component. This shift is supported by a broader industry trend, as governments and OEMs adjust their strategies regarding electric vehicles, bolstered by the introduction of advanced sustainable fuels in F1.

Domenicali is a vocal proponent of the FIA’s vision to reduce car weight and complexity, arguing that such changes would benefit the racing spectacle, driver enjoyment, and manufacturer costs.

“I definitely see personally... a sort of sustainable fuel for sure at the centre of the future, with a different balance of what could be the electrification with a strong internal combustion engine,” Domenicali explained. “Because that's motorsport. It will allow to save a lot of kilos, to have pure racing in that respect, in terms of a lighter car, smaller cars that you can really push as much as you can.”

While acknowledging that the current racing remains strong, the F1 CEO remains focused on the technical challenges posed by the current weight of the cars. “The battery has [introduced] a lot of things that have to be considered when you design a car,” he said. “So, these are the things that we need to process and to react to.”