F1 Energy Management Explained:
Lift and Coast (2026 Rules)
In 2026, the engine is 50% electric. If the battery dies, the car loses half its power. Managing energy is no longer optional—it's survival.
Why is it so hard in 2026?
The new Power Unit regulations have removed the MGU-H (the generator on the turbo). This means the car can no longer harvest energy while accelerating.
It can only harvest energy under braking (via the MGU-K).
But the electric motor is now 3x more powerful (350kW). It drains the battery much faster than before.
The Danger Zone
If a driver runs out of battery energy on a straight ("clipping"), they lose ~470bhp instantly. They will be a sitting duck for anyone behind them.
What Is Lift and Coast in Formula 1?
To keep the battery charged, drivers use a technique called "Lift and Coast".
1. Full Throttle
Accelerating down the straight. Using fuel + battery.
2. Lift
100 meters before the braking zone, the driver lifts off the gas pedal. The car coasts.
3. Harvest
The MGU-K engages to slow the car down, generating massive electricity to recharge the battery.
Do drivers do this every lap? No. In Qualifying, they push flat-out. In the race, they only do it when the engineer tells them to save fuel or charge the battery.
Fuel Saving
F1 cars are limited to 100kg of fuel for the race (approx. 135 litres).
On some tracks, this isn't enough to drive flat-out for every lap. Drivers must "under-fuel" the car (put in less fuel to be lighter and faster) and then save fuel during the race using Lift and Coast.