Former F1 driver and GPDA chairman Alex Wurz expects a spectacular new season. Both the engine regulations and the chassis are being overhauled, which could significantly shift the balance of power within the sport. Rumours that Mercedes and Red Bull have found ways to extract extra power from the engine have gripped the paddock. Wurz warns that such engine tricks could decide the title battle.
The 2026 season marks the start of a new technical era in Formula 1, with revised aerodynamics and even greater electrification of the power unit. Power will be split evenly between the internal combustion engine and the battery. That also means a more complex energy management system, where drivers can deploy new strategies to overtake. Functions like Boost, Overtake and Recharge will play a prominent role on track.
‘Even a top driver can’t make up for that’
“Especially the first half of the season could become extremely interesting with the new energy management system,” Wurz told Kronen Zeitung. “There could be some truly wild scenes. You can gain more than a second in certain corners and sectors.” Ahead of the new season reports circulated that two manufacturers – Mercedes and Red Bull – had discovered a trick with the new engines. Wurz says that that kind of advantage can be decisive in the fight for the championship.
“The FIA has reduced the compression ratios to 16:1, but it carries out the measurements at room temperature,” he explained. “Apparently two manufacturers exploited thermal expansion, resulting in higher effective ratios. We’re talking 10 to 15 hp, which equates to three to four tenths of a second per lap. Even a top driver can’t claw that back against a mid-pack driver. That could be decisive for the World Championship.”
