F1 Proposes Phased Cut to Electric Output After Driver Simulator Tests

Overview

• F1 president Stefano Domenicali said drivers who sampled the 2027 changes on simulators report the tweaks are “going in the right direction” and that he discussed the proposals directly with Max Verstappen.
• The proposal would reduce 2027 electrical output to a 58-42 split favouring the internal combustion engine and aim for about a 60-40 split in 2028 as part of a staged rollback.
• The move responds to technical problems from the 2026 50-50 rules such as automatic battery deployment, aggressive energy harvesting and 'superclipping' that drivers say create artificial-feeling racing and yoyo passing.
• Domenicali said he hopes Verstappen will stay in F1 and signalled a near-term decision on the driver’s future is expected around the Dutch Grand Prix with negotiations still ongoing.
• Any change must clear governance checks and win agreement from teams, manufacturers and the FIA, so the plan remains provisional and aims to calm top-driver unrest while limiting sudden cost or technical shocks to smaller teams.