F1 News: FIA Admits It Is "Unfair" To Modify 2026 Engine Rules Despite Red Bull Opposition
Red Bull called for a change in the 2026 regulations, specifically requesting an increase in fuel flow for the cars. However, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed his reluctance to alter the rules at this point, emphasizing the importance of fairness to the newly entered teams in Formula 1.
The fundamental concept behind the new power unit for the 2026 season, ushering in a new era of regulations for F1, is to achieve a balanced 50/50 ratio of power generated from both the internal combustion engine and electric power, boasting over 1,000 horsepower.
The regulations have piqued the interest of manufacturers such as Porsche and Ford in F1. In addition, Audi's acquisition of the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber in 2026 signifies the German manufacturer's debut in the sport.
Red Bull is one of the teams expressing skepticism about the new regulations, particularly calling for increased fuel flow and citing concerns from simulations. The FIA President acknowledges these concerns, emphasizing that altering rules post-implementation would be unfair. However, he also recognizes that maintaining the status quo could disadvantage new entrants to the grid.
Motorsportmagazin.com asked Ben Sulayem if he was afraid Audi would be deterred from entering the grid in 2026 if other teams demanded changes to the regulations. He answered:
“No. We said that this is our area of responsibility.
“The FIA was already working on the power unit before my time. I will always be grateful and respectful to our engineering department.
“Once we approved the rules, the manufacturers also signed up. If we hadn't done it, neither Audi, nor Porsche, nor anyone else would have been interested in it. If you close yourself off against change and just keep everyone in their comfort zone, then new teams won't come.
“Is that fair? No. We have to take this step, we have to be a little brave. We have to open up and move forward. It is normal that there was resistance.
“But then Audi signed. If there are small adjustments, the weight changes or a new material is introduced: the technology is developing every day!
“What I'm saying is: we won't lose anyone with the changes, we'll make sure we don't lose someone like Audi. We put a lot of effort into bringing them in and getting Porsche's interest.
“No, that won't be the case. Doing something and then changing it would also be unfair.
