FIA agrees gradual F1 engine power increase to ease energy management concerns

FIA opts for staged power unit adjustment

Formula 1 stakeholders have agreed a measured increase in internal combustion engine power from 2027, with the aim of easing the energy management concerns raised around the sport’s new-generation power unit framework.

Under the agreed plan, fuel flow will rise by five percent in 2027. That will lift internal combustion engine output from 400kW to 420kW, with the FIA indicating that the change should not require significant hardware revisions.

Bigger 2028 step gives manufacturers breathing room

A more substantial fuel-flow increase of 13 percent, raising ICE power to 450kW, has been deferred until 2028. That delay gives power unit manufacturers additional time to prepare for the planned 60/40 balance.

From 2028, the maximum harvest limit will rise again to 400kW, while maximum deployment and Overtake Mode levels will remain unchanged. The FIA has also confirmed tweaks to the power unit financial regulations, creating cost cap headroom for manufacturers to implement the revisions.

The proposed changes will now be submitted to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for ratification, scheduled for June 23 in Macau.

A compromise after competing manufacturer priorities

The changes are intended to refine the 2026 regulations, which have produced more action-packed racing but also created concerns over safety, particularly around high closing speeds between cars. Drivers have also complained about the workload behind the wheel and the amount of energy management required at several circuits, with qualifying no longer always feeling like a fully flat-out contest.

The FIA said: "The 2026 Formula 1 regulations were developed and agreed in close partnership between the FIA, FOM, teams, OEMs and Power Unit Manufacturers. These latest amendments reflect the continuation of this collaboration with all stakeholders working collectively to refine the framework and address identified operational challenges."

Mercedes and Red Bull Ford Powertrains were among those keen for larger changes as early as 2027, while Audi and Ferrari were concerned about resources and ambitious lead times. The result is a compromise: a gradual recalibration rather than a single sweeping reset. For wider context on the evolving power unit picture, read our analysis on Red Bull emerging as a 2026 engine benchmark.