The McLaren F1 is widely considered one of the greatest sports cars ever made and a lot of its appeal is derived from the fantastic powerplant.

While engine performance across manufacturers has largely been balanced in recent years, the 2026 changes could deliver significant, potentially decisive gains. In 2014, when F1 first introduced hybrid engines, Mercedes emerged with by far the best, setting it on course for eight consecutive world championship wins through to 2021.

Formula 1’s engine manufacturer’s are set for two meetings with the FIA, both aimed at defusing the simmering dispute over compression ratios.

The new F1 2026 power units will require downshifting along straights and lift-and-coast, but the F1 drivers don't appear too

Stefano Domenicali says Formula 1's 2026 power unit rules, including a 50:50 split between sustainable fuel combustion and electric power, helped attract major manufacturers such as Cadillac

Red Bull Powertrains boss Ben Hodgkinson would love to see Formula 1 unleash a full “gloves-off” engine fight between manufacturers.

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s F1 boss, has used the word “crazy” to describe the scale of the team’s new in-house engine program. With support from Ford, Red Bull has built its very first F1 engine for 2026, powering its own team and the sister Racing Bulls outfit.

SPONSORED: Honda has switched from Red Bull to Aston Martin for the 2026 Formula 1 season, but that's not the only change.