F1 - GP (General Purpose)

Chode ^ | 8/5/2009 | Chode

[Yo-Yo]

https://www.thedrive.com/news/f1-just-updated-its-power-unit-regs-for-2026-heres-what-to-expect

F1 Just Updated Its Power Unit Regs for 2026. Here’s What to Expect

F1 is toying with something called “override mode” that’ll sound familiar if you’re an IndyCar fan.

BY ELIZABETH BLACKSTOCK | PUBLISHED APR 3, 2024 10:15 AM EDT

If you're one of the many Formula 1 fans getting a little tired of the dominance of Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen, there's a good chance you've got your eyes firmly set on 2026. That's when we'll see a massive change in power unit regulations and—in theory—a shake-up in the current hierarchy. Those regulations just got an overhaul, and we'll run you through a few key changes so you know what to expect.

The fundamental power unit regulations have remained the same. The fuels powering the cars still need to be fully sustainable, and teams will be able to use less of those fuels thanks to a more efficient engine that can still make over 1,000 horsepower. The electrical components of the power unit are still going to become more prevalent, and they'll still use energy more efficiently than they currently do. What we're talking about today are some minor tweaks that can help that general picture come into better focus.

If you're looking to check out the regulations directly, you're in luck; the FIA not only publishes its regulations on its website but also highlights any alterations to the text with a pink-colored font. The most recent 2026 power unit regulations were approved by the World Motorsport Council and published on March 29, 2024. You can also check out previous technical regulations dating back to 2018 if you're the kind of human who revels in details.

Override Mode

If you've heard anything about these updated regs, you've probably heard about something called "override mode." Even though we're still looking at 1,000 horsepower engines, the actual power coming from the combustion element will be reduced from 560 kW down to 400 kW, or 535 bhp. The electrical part of the power unit is getting a power boost, from 150kW up to 350kW, or 470bhp — and it looks like drivers will also be able to access a little extra power courtesy of something called "override mode."

By enabling "override mode," drivers can access a boost of power for a temporary amount of time that can increase top speed to 220.5 mph. If you've watched America's IndyCar series, you've seen a similar concept at work; drivers are allocated a limited amount of extra power to overtake a car in front or defend against a car behind. It seems like this "override mode" will be similar.

There's just one problem: if you check out the updated technical regulations, you'll notice that the section on "override mode" directs you to the FIA's sporting regulations to read more about how it'll be deployed. However, the most recent version of the sporting regulations doesn't mention anything about override mode; that implies that the FIA is interested in the concept but has not yet agreed upon how to implement it. Expect to see more about that in the near future.

Lambda Sensors

There's an entire new subsection of the technical regulations centering around the addition of lambda sensors that must be "fitted into each exhaust secondary, one per cylinder bank; or a single lambda sensor fitted into the turbine tailpipe."

You might have heard lambda sensors referred to as oxygen sensors. Basically, these small probes measure the amount of air and fuel in any unburned hydrocarbons and then can send a signal to the Electronic Control Unit to change the fuel-to-air ratio. In your road car, lambda sensors are primarily used for decreasing emissions.

The addition of this sensor suggests a few different things. Perhaps teams are currently fiddling with their air-to-fuel ratios in a way that the FIA doesn't agree with.

It's more likely, though, that the fully sustainable fuels that F1 intends to implement remain something of a mystery. These fuels are going to be derived from non-food sources, general municipal waste, or even out of substances that exist in the atmosphere — but we still don't know the exact formula that'll be used here. Different fuels naturally require different air-to-fuel ratios to work most effectively. The FIA requires access to all data retrieved by the lambda sensor in its technical regulations; as F1 makes the leap to sustainable fuels, this will likely give the FIA reams of information to use in pursuing further carbon neutrality and tweaking regulations moving forward.

Standard PU and Ancillary Components

In 2022, F1 introduced a new set of regulations that included more standardized components for the overall design of the car itself. The 2026 power unit regulations will introduce standardized PU and ancillary components. "Ancillary components" are defined by the FIA as components "whose function is to support the primary activities of a main system to allow it to operate."

Here, the FIA is basically saying that it can decide what kinds of PU components and ancillary items can be used by the teams, and how many can be used. It wants teams to provide the FIA with more complete lists of all those ancillary components, and if an FIA-mandated part proves to be more finicky than expected, the FIA has the power to decide whether teams can use more of those parts before receiving penalties.

The more complete component lists will allow the FIA to have greater clarity into all the revamped PUs, and the FIA is also accounting for the fact that all this new technology could need some work before it can be truly reliable.

External Power Unit Manufacturers

In the list of PU definitions, the FIA has added an entry called "External PU Manufacturer." This essentially creates a whole new set of rules for PU manufacturers who may have withdrawn from supplying PUs, or who may be undertaking development of a PU it hopes to register with the FIA later. This "External PU Manufacturer" designation has been added into various clauses that had previously only mentioned PU Manufacturers. The rules dictating External PU Manufacturers thus far are pretty simple: don't accept or share trade secrets, don't swap employees around in a way that might enable them to share intellectual property with a different entity, and don't try to merge with another PU manufacturer.

The really important thing here is that F1 and the FIA have created a specific category for companies like Cadillac, which are exploring the idea of entering Formula 1 but haven't committed to joining just yet. The FIA is holding those interested parties accountable for the way they've sourced and developed their power unit technologies before they've even entered; it shows that F1 has expectations for prospective entries and that it has likely already fielded questions from some prospective entries about what rules they should follow.

So, What Does It All Mean for F1?

The updates to F1's 2026 power unit regulations can seem both very vague and also overly descriptive all at once—but we can condense them down into two bigger points.

First, F1 understands that it'll be broaching brand-new territory with these upgrades, and it intends to navigate this new path with ample record-keeping and the ability to make changes on the fly if something isn't working.

Second, F1 understands that it needs to look beyond its current horizons if it intends to grow. Maybe that means adopting a different series' in-race procedures to spice things up a little bit. Maybe that means creating a rulebook that can be as useful to prospective teams or parts suppliers as it is to current ones.

As we draw closer to 2026, we'll definitely see more additions and changes being made to the PU regulations. Each change will bring the future of the sport into sharper focus, and we'll have an increasingly better idea of just what we can expect.

[Chode]

thx...

“can increase top speed to 220.5 mph”

so it’s governed???

[BBB333]

Verrrrry interestink................

Thanks!

[Lockbox]

I read of the Push to Pass coming and the Drag Reduction System maybe leaving. Hope F1 allows the drivers to control the brief power increase as they see fit. No more controlled sectors, this would make races very interesting!

We also now have the Push to Crash system Alonso used…… so Push to Pass fits 🤣

Maybe call it Avanti

[Chode]

welcome...

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Rumor has it Rupaul is against the Drag Reduction System.

[Chode]

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/wolff-admits-vettel-is-never-a-name-you-can-discount-amid-rumours-of-f1.6XwxDhNiUjSGDBITzCTuFb

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/leclerc-opens-up-on-bianchi-tribute-helmet-as-he-says-former-ferrari-protege.iacdmsRymEiOxoyAQfCdu

[Lockbox]

There’s always one….. 😂

[Paal Gulli]

A tribute to a driver who killed himself ignoring a yellow flag. Makes sense. And Bianchi is one of the key reasons for the accursed "halo." Now the cars are safe to drive underneath a 7-ton tow motor. Welcome to Formula Nerf.

Automobile racing is supposed to be dangerous. When it isn't dangerous, they call it "slot cars."

Carlos Sainz is predicting that NotVerstoppenFerNuthin (except brake fires) won't be dominating much longer.

https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/08/carlos-sainz-boldly-predicts-max-verstappens-f1-dominance-will-end-20606248/

Pretty bold prediction, considering Max's margin of victory at Japan was pretty much the average of what it had been at Bahrain and Saudi, where he cruised to wins. And Sainz was eight seconds adrift of Checko at Suzuka. I figure Ferrari must have a plan for sabotaging RBR. Either that or Carlos has been drinking too much Maranelo water.

[Chode]

Formula Nerf, wi no pointed corners or sharp edges

but making statements like that is prolly above his paygrade...

[Chode]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13287117/Lewis-Hamilton-reveals-turned-role-Gun-2-despite-begging-Tom-Cruise-film-box-office-smash-broke-heart.html

He's better known for his fact-paced feats on the track, but Lewis Hamilton very nearly felt the need for speed of an entirely different kind thanks to his friendship with Tom Cruise.

The Formula 1 ace, currently enduring a torrid time at the Tokyo Grand Prix, admits he was offered a role in the Hollywood star's 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.

A sequel to the legendary 1986 film starring Cruise as Naval Aviator Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, the film grossed $1.496 billion worldwide and is widely credited for pulling Hollywood out of the financial hole created by COVID-19 and the global pandemic.

But Hamilton, 39, was left to rue a missed opportunity after conflicting schedules resulted in the Mercedes driver turned down a cameo role.

Speaking to GQ, he admitted to begging for a role in the film years before principal photography began, when the prospect of a potential sequel was first mooted by Cruise.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Sounds to me like Hamilton is in the sights of Scientology. They make a perfect pair.

[Bob434]

go for it hammie- a fool and their money are soon parted-

[Chode]

he can be their black messiah...

[God luvs America]

I’m sure Ferrari is very happy with their investment, especially with the way Carlos Sainz has been racing

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

It seems Mercedes and Ferrari really screwed the pooch.

[Chode]

i hope it bites them in the culo bigtime...

[Chode]

Japanese GP 2024 | Highlights | Formula 1 Comedy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Imrg30sv_s

[Chode]

https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-c8-chevy-corvette-zr1-is-finally-confirmed-and-its-coming-this-summer

[Chode]

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/watch-from-alonso-in-belgium-to-kubica-in-canada-20-times-f1-cars-went-airborne.5UlQP0ghTNq1Y66hBKI9lE