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Carlos Sainz has urged the FIA to take a "very strong approach" in pushing through proposed changes to the 2027 power unit regulations, insisting that the sport's governing body should leave dissenting teams with no alternative but to accept the new framework.
The Williams driver — who benefits from a class-leading Mercedes HPP customer power unit — made his position clear when asked about his call for the FIA to get tough over the planned shift in the engine power split.
"There is the Commission where the teams have a vote, and I guess that is where I was saying to the FIA and to FOM to push it through and stay committed," Sainz told media. "Because if they say it should be like that, I'm pretty sure that teams who are complaining or maybe not fully aligned with them will have no choice other than to do it."
At the heart of the debate is a proposed adjustment to the energy split in the 2027 power units. Under the current regulations, the internal combustion engine and the battery system contribute equally in a 50:50 split — a central pillar of F1's new engine rules. However, in a bid to reduce reliance on electrical energy, an agreement was reached in principle to adjust that ratio to a 60:40 split in favour of the combustion engine ahead of the 2027 season.
The proposal has already attracted vocal backing from within the paddock. Toto Wolff has publicly declared his support for the 60:40 shift, though the path to implementation remains far from straightforward.
A supermajority on the Power Unit Advisory Committee is required to pass the change — meaning four of the five power unit manufacturers must approve it, alongside the FIA and Formula 1 itself. Currently, Honda, Mercedes HPP, and Red Bull Powertrains are understood to support the adjustment. However, Audi and Ferrari are opposed, meaning any formal vote would fall short of the required threshold.
Despite the current regulatory deadlock, Sainz struck a deliberately forward-looking tone when assessing the season as a whole.
"Obviously, everyone needs to agree, but at the same time, if it is for the good of the sport, for the good of the racing and the show, I'm a big fan of the rulers taking a very strong approach and a strong stance," he said.
"I think there is scope and a margin to improve this engine and these regulations with what is being proposed for next year. I don't think we can do much more this year, and from my side, I've decided to maybe just stop complaining, because it is clear that this year is not ideal, and it is never going to be. But I am very hopeful about next year and how much it can change."
With the 2027 regulations representing a potential turning point for how power is delivered on track, the coming weeks of negotiations between manufacturers and the FIA are set to carry significant weight.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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