FIA makes key F1 engine rule change to help manufacturers in 2027 and 2028

The FIA has extended the temporary relaxation of the number of permitted power unit components by two years. As a result, each driver may use four internal combustion engines, four turbochargers, and four exhaust systems in 2027 and 2028. In addition, three MGU-Ks, three batteries, and three electronic control units are allowed. Previously, this exception only applied in 2026, when the new regulations came into force.

GPblog understands that the decision was made to maintain the eased engine limits from 2026 into 2027 and 2028 because the new regulatory changes were agreed relatively late. This gives manufacturers less development time, while at the same time the risk of reliability issues increases due to the altered engine specifications. The FIA wants to prevent manufacturers from facing stricter limits on the number of permitted engine components on top of that shorter development window.

The original plan was to revert to the initial limits from 2027 onward. That would have meant drivers could use only three internal combustion engines and three turbochargers, while the MGU-K, battery, and ECU would be limited to two units per season. The FIA has now decided to let the relaxation remain in place for two more years.

The adjustment coincides with the introduction of the updated Formula 1 engine regulations in 2027. In the early years of a completely new engine framework, the focus often lies on reliability, so the extra components give manufacturers more flexibility during a season. Moreover, the balance between the electric and combustion portions of the power unit will change to 43/57 in 2027 and to 40/60 in 2028.

The additional permitted components particularly give new manufacturers more room to address potential reliability issues without immediately hitting the original limits. The FIA is also explicitly tying this relaxation to the first years of the new engine regulations.