This week’s Formula 1 post-season test in Abu Dhabi marked the first track outing for the new fuel flow meter that will be introduced in 2026 when the championship adopts 100 per cent sustainable fuel.
The device, developed and built by Allengra, was installed in the Mercedes W15, McLaren MCL38, Williams FW46 and Sauber C44 for the session at Yas Marina Circuit. Fuel flow meters are used to limit the amount of fuel being sent to the combustion engine, preventing teams from gaining a power advantage on certain parts of a lap.
F1 is overhauling its power unit regulations in 2026, with the electrical part of the powertrain being uprated and the internal combustion engine’s contribution being reduced. The championship is also switching to 100 per cent sustainable content fuel, developed by the different fuel suppliers that are partnered with each power unit manufacturer.
The overhaul is also heralding a new exclusive supply contact for the FIA-approved F1 fuel flow meter, valid from 2026 to 2030. Allengra, which currently operates in the FIM World Superbike Championship, won the FIA tender and will replace Sentronics as the designated supplier to all cars.
The purpose of the Abu Dhabi test was to give the FIA some initial real-world data on how the Allengra fuel flow meter performs, having previously undergone static dyno rig testing. Both the FIA and Allengra were satisfied with its initial findings. A key requirement is for the 2026 meter to have +/- 0.5 per cent accuracy in its fuel flow measurements, as well as repeatability and adaptability for the next-generation fuel containing different sustainably-derived components.
‘I think, globally, the test went very well,’ said Martin Baerschneider, F1 powertrain engineer at the FIA. ‘We are certainly happy that the fuel flow meters that we ran, ran reliably. The signal was good.
‘We gathered quite a lot of data because there were many laps completed. We felt that, generally, it worked quite well out of the box.
‘Of course, there are improvements to be made and learning to be had for improvements from the data we gathered. They have been tested on the benches at the power unit manufacturers – partially at the teams as well – but that was the first time in real-life conditions in the car. Which is still very different, if you think of the amount of vibrations they encounter [and] the g forces compared to a static bench test.’
Currently, F1 car fuel tanks are fitted with two fuel…
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