Skyrocketing Costs
“I hope that the decisive elements for the outcome of the competition remain in the hands of the teams. What I wouldn’t like is for just the fuel or the battery to make the big difference. There’s a risk that could happen.” This is how Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur last July ‘anticipated’ points of debate that, as 2026 approaches, are inevitably emerging, raising more than one concern about what will unfold in just a few months when everything changes in F1.
The FIA tried to convince the teams to reshuffle the deck by presenting a proposal to reduce the battery’s power output during races (from 350 kW to 200 kW), but for now, the 2026 rules – which were established in 2022 – have not been changed. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff pointed out that it would be unfair to alter the regulations before the 2026 cars have even hit the track, also because it wouldn’t be respectful to the manufacturers who committed to F1 based on those technical rules. “Honda recommitted thanks to these regulations, and Audi joined us. We’re also not interested in changing the rules at this time. However, we must be open to considering changes if complaints arise,” said Toto Wolff, as reported by German outlet Auto Motor und Sport.
The Federation – or at least its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem – would like to push for V10s powered by synthetic fuels, not biofuels, which are already a significant expense for the F1 teams. “The most expensive thing right now is bench testing with the new fuel,” stated Flavio Briatore. At present, the cost per liter of biofuel is in the three-digit range, meaning at least $100 per liter – a price that could bring the total fuel expenditure to $20 million per season. Of course, for all the brands involved in the development of biofuels, this new frontier demands major investments, which naturally impact the product’s cost, as Frederic Vasseur already noted a year ago.
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