FIA's 60:40 Engine Plan Faces Manufacturer Blockade

Approval of a 60:40 power split would let teams change fuel flow and tank capacity to fix battery‑drain safety and racing problems.

Overview

The FIA has proposed shifting the 2027 Formula 1 power‑unit split from the current near‑50:50 to about 60:40 in favour of the internal combustion engine to reduce electric deployment and battery‑drain issues.
The change would be achieved by raising fuel flow and increasing fuel‑tank capacity while cutting permitted electric deployment, steps that will require hardware redesigns from manufacturers and teams.
Passage of the proposal requires a supermajority on the Power Unit Advisory Committee and recent reporting says Audi and Ferrari oppose the move, placing the change at risk.
Senior paddock figures including Toto Wolff, Carlos Sainz and Laurent Mekies have publicly urged decisive action, while Max Verstappen has warned the sport could lose top drivers if rules are not improved.
If the vote fails, teams face tight lead times and extra costs to implement any later fix, a dynamic that is already prompting strategic talk about supplier relationships and longer‑term engine plans toward 2030–31.