What might F1 cars in 2026 sound like?
Image: Frederic Le Floch
Formula One is a sport of a different breed, no doubt about that. Its distinguishing factor is that the rules are almost constantly changing - Mercedes’ DAS (Dual-Axis Steering) system in 2020, Ferrari’s 2019 fuel flow debacle and the innovation of the double-diffuser in 2009 all come to mind.
All the above examples were initiated by clever engineers - however F1’s governing body, the FIA, likes to bring in their own revised set of rules every four years or so. Starting last year, designers were faced with the challenge of meeting new regulations, which put more of a focus on aerodynamics and made the cars longer, wider and heavier.
How engines will change
For 2026, the 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engines we’ve been used to since 2014 will remain. The biggest change to be introduced is the removal of the expensive MGU-H, which harvests thermal energy using spinning magnets to charge a battery that the driver can deploy at the press of a button - often called the ‘Overtake’ button.
The MGU-H is being essentially outlawed to decrease development costs and make an F1 entry more attractive for potential new manufacturers to the sport - namely VW (as Audi), Ford, General Motors (as Cadillac) and the returning Honda.
Image: Issei Kato, Reuters
The ICE will take a hit in power, reducing from around 860 bhp to roughly 540 bhp. To make up for this, the horsepower produced by the MGU-K (formerly known as the KERS system) will almost triple, from about 160 to 500.
The role of synthetic fuels
Fans, pundits and even drivers have all called for the return of V8 and V10-powered machines to act as part of F1's plans to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2030. As counter-intuitive as this sounds, the reasoning behind such an idea resides in sustainable synthetic fuels.
See below a list of the teams’ fuel suppliers:
Castrol (BP) - Alpine
ExxonMobil - Red Bull, Alpha Tauri
Petronas - Mercedes, Aston Martin, Williams, McLaren (branded as Gulf)
Shell - Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Haas
All of the above - as well as Aramco - are currently developing 100% sustainable fuel mixtures for the 2026 season.
Last year, new fuel regulations were introduced, requiring all cars to run on what’s called E10 fuel: E for Ethanol and 10 for the percentage of the entire fuel mix that it comprises alongside traditional gasoline.
Shell have thus far been the most vocal and open in their efforts to develop an eco-friendly fuel solution.
Image: Shell Global
The elephant in the room
You’re thinking it, we’re thinking it, passionate experts are thinking it too. Sky’s Karun Chandhok is even thinking it!
Let’s get to the crux here: Why can’t V10 or V8 engines return if they’d be running on 100% sustainable fuels?
This would be perfectly feasible, given that emissions would be zero - F1 would retain its aim of having no carbon footprint and we’d see the glorious return of those earth-shattering engines.
As mentioned, Karun Chandhok has gone on record, pleading the FIA to “ditch” hybrid systems moving forward and to concentrate more on running engines of more displacement and power on sustainable fuels.
The former driver took to Twitter to voice his opinions:
So how will the cars sound?
The good news for us enthusiasts comes down to a handful of changes for the 2026 season:
The removal of the MGU-H means the ICE will have to work harder and guzzle more fuel in order to make up for a lost power source. In turn, engines will need to rev higher, creating more noise.
Noise mufflers will no longer be mandatory in regulations, hopefully allowing those high-revving V6s to belt out without restriction.
Fuel flow will be measured differently, going from being based on mass to being based on energy. This means engines may be set to run higher than the current 15,000 rpm limit - despite supposed diminishing returns over 10,500 rpm.
