sports
‘Get rid of the battery’: F1 under increasing pressure to make more changes to engine rules
Norris and Piastri call for long-term changes to sport
TL;DR
- Formula One is under pressure to change its new engine regulations, with calls to remove batteries.
- Drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri believe the battery's role hinders performance and enjoyment.
- Recent adjustments to the 2026 formula were deemed successful in the short term but did not resolve long-term dissatisfaction.
- There is a general desire within the sport to reduce electrical energy's role and increase combustion engine power.
- FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has proposed a return to V8 engines with minor electrification by 2030-2031.
- Mercedes is open to new engine regulations, including V8s, but emphasizes the need for sufficient lead time for hardware changes.
- Immediate focus is on whether short-term engine regulation changes can be agreed upon before the Canadian Grand Prix.