FIA CONSIDERS PLAN B FOR 2026 F1 ENGINES AFTER EARLY CONCERNS
The FIA has suggested a possible “Plan B” for the 2026 Formula 1 season if problems appear during the first two races.
Under the new 2026 rules, Formula 1 cars will use a much higher level of electric power. The MGU-K, which is the part of the engine that recovers and delivers electric energy, will play a bigger role than before, 50% of the total power comes from there.
However, after the pre-season testing, there are concerns that the system may cause drivers to save too much energy during races. Because of this, the FIA is discussing a backup plan.
The idea is simple: reduce the maximum electric power from the MGU-K by 15 to 30 percent if needed. If this change is made, the cars would be around 1.5 to 2.5 seconds slower per lap. While that sounds like a big difference, it could actually improve the racing.
During testing in Bahrain, some drivers had to slow down severely and manage energy in extreme ways to make sure they had enough power during the lap. This created what many described as a more “artificial” driving style, where drivers were not pushing flat out but instead focusing heavily on saving energy.
With less electric power available, drivers would not need to save as much energy. They could drive in a more natural and aggressive way, closer to what fans expect from Formula 1, although we might see slower cars.
During testing in Bahrain, it was also noticed that drivers were struggling to have enough energy left at the end of a qualifying lap. Even when they harvest the energy before crossing the start/finish line to begin their flying lap, they closed it without any energy left, something that was never seen in Formula 1 before.
The final decision has not been made yet. The FIA will monitor how the new cars perform in the opening races of the 2026 season before deciding whether Plan B is necessary.
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