F1 manufacturers are now hard at work in developing their next-generation turbo hybrids, which will feature a 50/50 split in power between the internal combustion engine and battery.
The nature of what is coming has opened the door for what could be some unique characteristics because there will be a premium on energy recovery.
Newey has revealed that effectively turning the ICEs into generators means there could even be the need for weird traits, like needing them to run at full revs through tight corners such as the hairpin in Monaco.
“It’s certainly going to be a strange formula in as much as the engines will be working flat-chat as generators just about the whole time,” he told Motorsport.com.
“So, the prospect of the engine working hard in the middle of Loews hairpin is going to take some getting used to.”
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Engine first formula
The unique characteristics of the engine have been a cause of intrigue for a while now, as F1 chiefs are having to create the chassis rules around them.
And that has active aerodynamics a necessity to help deliver more downforce in the corners and then reduce drag on the straights.
Not everyone is happy about the way things have been done, with world champion Max Verstappen thinking that it was a mistake to have made the engine rules first and then try to mould the car regulations around them.
“I think they realised that on the engine side, not everything is as efficient as everyone thought after all,” said Verstappen in Japan about progress on the 2026 regulations.
Newey concurs that the situation is unusual, as it has made creating the chassis regulations much harder.
Asked for his views on the argument that the aero rules were now a sticking plaster for an engine that was not delivering all that had been hoped, Newey said: “I think that’s a fair comment, and probably one that even the FIA would acknowledge – that only the engine manufacturers wanted this kind of 50/50 combustion engine with electric.
“I guess it is what their marketing people said that we should be doing and I understand that: it’s potentially interesting because F1 can be a fast-track developer of technology.
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“The problem potentially on the battery and electric side is the cost currently, certainly of electric motors to F1 standard, plus inverters and batteries. It is very high, but perhaps production techniques in the…
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