The 2026 F1 Power Unit Explained:
Hybrid, Electric & Sustainable Fuel
Formula 1 is redefining the hybrid engine. The complex MGU-H is gone, and electric power has tripled to match the internal combustion engine.
Is Formula 1 Electric in 2026?
No, Formula 1 is not fully electric. It is a hybrid.
F1 cars use a "Power Unit" that combines a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) with a powerful electric motor. For 2026, the split is roughly 50/50. The electric motor provides about 470bhp, and the engine provides about 535bhp. If you want fully electric racing, that is Formula E.
The 2026 50/50 Power Split Explained
The headline for the 2026 engine regulations is the power split. The total power output remains over 1,000 horsepower, but where that power comes from has changed drastically.
1.6L V6 Turbo. Power reduced from previous years to save fuel.
Tripled in power. Now provides nearly half the total output.
Why Did F1 Go 50/50 Electric?
The shift to a 50/50 power split is to keep F1 relevant to road car technology. Manufacturers like Audi and Honda wanted to prove that electric power is the future of performance.
This massive increase in electrical power means the cars rely heavily on energy harvesting from the Brakes. It also enables new strategic tools like Manual Override Mode for overtaking.
How Much Horsepower Does a 2026 F1 Car Have?
A 2026 F1 car has over 1,000 horsepower (approx 750 kW).
This is roughly the same total power as the previous generation of cars, but the delivery is different. The internal combustion engine produces about 535 hp, and the electric motor produces about 470 hp.
What Fuel Will F1 Use in 2026?
In 2026, F1 will use 100% sustainable fuel.
This "drop-in" fuel is created in a lab using carbon captured from the atmosphere or municipal waste. It burns just like normal petrol but is carbon neutral because the carbon it releases was already taken out of the air to make it. It is not hydrogen, and it is not standard pump gas.
What Happened to the MGU-H?
The Motor Generator Unit - Heat (MGU-H) has been removed.
This was a complex device that sat on the turbocharger to harvest energy from exhaust gases. While incredibly efficient, it was:
- ✕Extremely expensive to develop.
- ✕Irrelevant to road cars (too complex).
- ✕A barrier for new manufacturers like Audi to enter the sport.
By removing it, F1 has attracted Audi and Honda (officially) back to the sport.
The Biggest Challenge: Energy Management in 2026
With the MGU-H gone, the car can no longer harvest energy while accelerating. It can only harvest energy under braking (via the MGU-K).
The "Hungry" Motor
This makes the 350kW electric motor very hungry. Drivers will need to use strategies like "Lift and Coast" aggressively to keep the battery charged. If the battery runs flat, they lose nearly 500 horsepower instantly.
Sustainable Fuel
The Internal Combustion Engine isn't dead—it's just cleaner. The 2026 engines will run on 100% sustainable fuel. This is a "drop-in" fuel created from municipal waste, non-food biomass, or carbon capture, ensuring that the V6 engine is carbon neutral.