Honda backs FIA’s revised F1 engine plan as a ‘reasonable step’

Honda accepts phased F1 power unit shift

Honda has described the FIA’s latest Formula 1 engine rule adjustment as a reasonable step after months of discussions over the direction of the sport’s future power unit balance.

The change will be achieved by increasing fuel flow to the internal combustion engine, shifting the balance of output away from the equal split that had prompted concern. For more background on the phased approach, read our report on how the FIA agreed a gradual F1 engine power increase for 2027 and 2028.

Months of negotiation before final agreement

Those discussions have now produced a compromise, although the changes remain subject to formal ratification by the World Motor Sport Council on June 23.

Honda became the first power unit manufacturer to publicly respond to the completed package, with Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer Shintaro Orihara offering a measured assessment.

"It is hard to say," Orihara told media, including RacingNews365. "I would say that our target is to get more engine power, but I would say that [the rule changes announced by the FIA] is a reasonable step for the power unit side."

Honda evaluates ADUO position

Orihara also addressed recent ADUO reports indicating that Red Bull Powertrains had been declared the strongest engine in F1. Under that assessment, Mercedes HPP, Audi, Ferrari and Honda are all set to receive upgrade tokens to improve performance.

ADUO only covers internal combustion engine performance metrics, and Orihara said Honda considered the FIA’s findings to be fair. The wider competitive picture was also detailed in our analysis of how Red Bull emerged as the new engine benchmark.

"We received information from the FIA, and got some numbers, and now we hope to develop our engine performance for the summer period," he said. "We are working on improved combustion performance."

Orihara added that Honda’s internal expectations broadly matched the FIA’s conclusions.

"Our expectations and the FIA’s [results] were kind of similar, so I think RBPT did a great job, and I respect what they have done. The number we received from the FIA was quite fair for us."