Unanimity vanished
At the beginning of May, the International Federation had issued a press release officially announcing that it had reached a agreement with FOM, teams, and engine manufacturers for a significant intervention on the regulations in view of 2027. The increase in fuel flow, combined with a reduction in the power of the electric part, would have changed the current ratio between the thermal and electric engine from the current 54:46 to 60:40. A change also requested by the drivers, who had expressed a favorable opinion on the direction taken in the April meetings.
However, in the Montreal paddock it emerged that the unanimity evoked by the document had vanished. There were multiple reasons for dissatisfaction, from teams complaining about extra expenses due to the design of larger fuel tanks, to engine manufacturers who did not want to redo the engine for budget cap reasons (Audi) and who considered this change incompatible with the ADUO mechanism (Ferrari). Hence the idea of a compromise, which would essentially postpone the 60:40 to 2028, immediately finding strong opposition from drivers like Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz.
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4 votes needed among the 6 engine manufacturers
Carlos Sainz in particular had urged the FIA and FOM to impose these changes: but the Federation and Liberty Media do not have this possibility, unless for safety reasons – which do not seem to exist at the moment.
To pass the 60:40 motion already from 2027 the so-called ‘supermajority’ is needed within the PUAC – the power unit manufacturers advisory committee. The supermajority is obtained with 4 of the 6 votes at the table. At the moment only Mercedes and Red Bull are in favor.
Honda would be undecided and positioned in the middle of the two factions.
Cadillac is unyielding, as is Ferrari. And Audi would also have expressed a contrary opinion, although more open to dialogue.
The British from The Race have revealed several behind-the-scenes details of the ongoing political battle.
Why is Ferrari unyielding on the ‘no’?
Ferrari does not intend to give its green light because of the ADUO mechanism. The liberalization of power unit development in view of 2027 is seen as too favorable for the already advanced engine manufacturers – and it is no coincidence that Mercedes and Red Bull are for the ‘yes’. These manufacturers could indeed focus their efforts already on the new 2027 power unit, while Ferrari is still chasing 2026 with the improvements that will probably be guaranteed by the ADUO.
In this way Mercedes and Red Bull could even further distance themselves: for this reason Ferrari is firm on postponing to 2028. Position shared with Cadillac.
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Pressure on Audi and Honda
Time is running out for 2027 and indeed, it is probably already late to redesign the power units and cars for the proposed changes. A quick decision will have to be made. The FIA is no longer aiming to achieve unanimity, but the simple supermajority of the PUAC.
With the yes already from Mercedes and Red Bull, the positions to work on are those of Honda and Audi. The belief is growing that with Audi’s approval, Honda would also side with the ‘yes’, thus unlocking the situation.
Audi considers the extra ten million required for the 2027 redesign excessive, hence the idea of implementing a series of mechanisms to stay within the budget cap or to carefully evaluate the changes requested for the power unit, so as not to have to rethink it.
In this way Audi could say yes, provided that the FIA and F1 do not intend to further tweak the regulations in the coming years, to ensure stability until 2031.
And Ferrari? The Race suggests that – should the prospect of a political defeat become clear – it would be wise to sit at the negotiating table for a compromise that could get something for Maranello. Which would still be a better result than a complete defeat…
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