F1 News: Ferrari Fires Up Its First 2026 Power Unit
Ferrari has reportedly fired up its first power unit that complies with the 2026 regulations in Formula 1 at Maranello before the Christmas break. Though this specific unit won't be used on a racetrack given that this is a prototype, it indicates an additional step the Red team has taken toward the new era in F1 racing.
The 2026 regulations mandate power units that achieve a balance between internal combustion and electric power, with a 50% share for each. The rules, approved by the FIA, impose stricter limitations on materials and solutions for the 1.6-liter V6 turbo, indicating a more straightforward engine architecture in the future.
As per a report in Motorsport Italy, the first roar of the prototype of the 2026 6-cylinder turbo echoed recently with a concept of the future power unit with 50-50 power distribution, and without a Motor Generator Unit - Heat (MGU-H).
The test signifies the completion of the initial phase in the development of the new power unit under the guidance of Enrico Gualtieri, Technical Director of the Power Unit at Scuderia Ferrari. The next, more intricate phase of the project will now be led by Wolf Zimmermann, appointed by Ferrari in the first quarter of 2023 as the head of the project for the new generation of power units.
However, Ferrari is placing significant emphasis on the combustion phase, particularly in light of F1's shift to zero-impact fuels in 2026 by introducing biofuel or e-fuel. The collaboration with AvL, a research center in Graz that provides valuable expertise in hybrid engines, contributes to Ferrari's endeavors in this domain.
The source who provided the details also indicated that there would be various editions of the 2026 power unit undergoing testing in the initial development phase. Nevertheless, it is evident that the initial step has been successfully executed, yielding positive results.
