The 2026 power unit regulations for F1 mark the sport’s most significant engineering overhaul in several years, with their consequences already evident on the track. For this edition of Autosport Explains, Jake Boxall-Legge convened with Powertrains Engineer Estanis Buigues Mahiques to elucidate the specific alterations: a diminished internal combustion engine, a three-fold increase in electrical output, the discontinuation of the MGU-H, and a novel energy management approach that aligns more closely with Formula E than any prior F1 system.
Estanis delves into the technical underpinnings of the various eccentricities teams are striving to overcome as the season progresses, encompassing everything from turbo delay at race beginnings to vehicles shifting into first gear during gradual turns.
