Predicting the Impact of FIA 2026 Power Unit Regulations on the Performance of Formula 1 Car

This work investigates the impact of the forthcoming 2026 FIA Formula 1 power unit regulations on vehicle track performance. This new regulation introduces a rebalanced power distribution between the internal combustion engine and the Motor Generator Unit–Kinetic (MGU-K), with each unit contributing up to 350 kW. This transition nearly triples the previous 120 kW output of the MGU-K while constraining the internal combustion engine through newly imposed fuel energy limits. A full vehicle powertrain model was developed in GT-Suite following 2026 FIA technical directives. Particular attention was given to Articles 5.4.7 to 5.4.10, which define key constraints on hybrid operation: a maximum variation of 4 MJ in battery state of charge, up to 9 MJ of recoverable energy per lap, and a peak MGU-K electrical power output of 350 kW. The model includes updated architecture specifications, active aerodynamic modules, energy deployment logic, and component-level constraints. Telemetry data from the 2024–2025 qualifying sessions was employed for model development, validation, and benchmarking, enabling performance comparisons under realistic track conditions. Analysis results reveal notable deviations in powertrain response and vehicle performance across a range of circuits, establishing a correlation between these powertrain performance and track layout. The model enables the decomposition of overall system effects into discrete contributions from specific regulatory requirements and individual component limitations. This paper will propose a justification and scheme for developing circuit-specific strategies based on maximum energy constraint and vehicle performance.