Simply relevance with street cars. The 2026 engine rules are another step in hybridisation. The manufacturers seem interested in learning from it: Audi and Ford have joined, presumably for that reason. On the positive side, we should have 6 different powertrains in 2026. When was the last time that happened ?
Less gas in the tank for 2026. 2020 was 109kg's and current. 2026 is going to be 70kg's of gas going forward. 2013 was a 160kg's of fuel. With each passing formula there is a decrease in fuel load while going the same distance.
You are right, it was many years ago. I think the constructors are interested in this 2026 formula because it puts more emphasis on electric power. They want to increase battery performance for the next generation of hybrid street cars where weight and capacity become crucial. So it's very relevant.
Call Toyota about 'Hybrid' power lol. Old news. Sure new tech but the only road car with any of this is a Mercedes hyper sportscar for the road. Ford and Audi could buy a Prius and learn for far less lol. Going 120kmph does not take F1 tech for the road. The engineering exercise is interesting but relevance is debate point.
There isn't much one can learn from a Prius now; some other hybrid cars do much better. Even Toyota has learnt a lot from motorsport, don't you think ? What about their victories at Le Mans and WEC championships. The technology is well known, but competition improves it. Every time they tighten the rules in hybrid formulae (F1, WEC or WRC), it offers a new challenge for engineers. Of course, those who would like a return to a V12 atmo series will be disappointed ... But that's progress .
True but we are not inventing the wheel here. As you note F1 is not required and the basic Prius appears to be the standard and quite capable to do the daily motivation one generally needs.
Well, the fact is that F1 rules move forward, not backward. As always, there will be some who will accept the change, and some who will not. I am frankly far more worried about other aspects of F1 than a new engine rule.
The engine solution is so, so simple: Artificial fuel, engine bore/stroke/materials/rpm limited. Power is made by fuel companies advancing their fuel tech further with better combustion. NA V10 and it'll be super clean whilst at it. Not this idiotic stuff they've dreamed up now
I love v10s. But imo that's not an advancement in technology. It would be for entertainment only. Smaller engines, force induction engines make just as much power. Take up less space, more efficient. The reason the v10s existed was F1 seeking advancements in technology. You have to choose whether you want F1 to continue this tech advancement trend as they did since the beginning, or change course to step back in tech and become entertainment only. I accept the current v6 engines/powerunits. As long as its ICE I don't care. My desire is mostly on the chassis side, hoping that there are more advancements in reducing weight and making the cars smaller.
Step-by-step more electric power will be delivered to the wheels, even on F1 cars, I believe. Why ? Because electric motors are vastly more efficient than ICE. Any engineer knows that. The drawback at the moment is battery weight and recharging time. But they are working on that. The 2026 formula split power delivery 50/50 between electric and ICE. A future F1 formula could be electric power 100% delivered to the wheels , and the ICE kept only as generator. That's the solution already adopted on some street cars, BTW.
Yep, lagging battery tech is the only thing saving ice. I hope it takes another 50 years for it to develope lol
The drawback is weight, recharging time, very cold temperatures and what they do to batteries, AND efficiency under battery load(range under load and under extreme cold conditions). The electrical grid cannot handle a 30% population on electric cars. Trillions have to be spent just on the electrical grid to "update" it.....all on taxpayers backs of course. This battery narrative is all because of the climate control activists and governments. Synthetic fuels or Biofuels are another alternative with the infrastructure all ready in use. Zero emissions on NA ICE platforms whether 4 cylinder all the up to 12 cylinders. Climate activists and local governments don't like this idea because it doesn't line their pockets. Let the markets decide what is best and not climate activists or local governments.
Battery weight and recharging time affect mostly all electric, or rechargeable hybrid cars. But a simple hybrid doesn't need a large battery, nor recharging and can run solely on electric powered provided by a small ICE as power source. Where the electric scores highly is on efficiency: an electric motor is far more efficient than any ICE. There is also the phenomenal instant torque of electric motors that put ICEs to shame. I find the argument that the grid in some countries isn't developed enough a bit weak: of course it needs to be beefed up to meet the demand. People argue about the cost of new infrastructure, but don't object to the $Billions sent to OPEC countries using their position to blackmail Western countries ! For most of Europe at least, a switch to electric power generated from renewable sources would be a step towards energy independence from the dictat of the sheiks, mullahs and other dictators on our planet. It's that consideration that motivates governments, and it has nothing to do with ecolo activists.
Well, the Prius has been around for over a decade and it hasn't taken over the market as of late. It being a Toyota, the CEO has his mind set to include the company of where the market is headed even though they still make the Prius. Here in the States, we don't need OPEC, or Venezuelan, or Iranian oil since all 3 refine it very dirty(emissions). The U.S. does it better(emissions-wise) and it's very clean and we have plenty of it. So much so that we can export ti the European community. This also depends on what Administration is in power.
The mission of F1 was never to advance automotive technology until the arrival of the hybrid formula era. It used to be a competition between drivers and teams, now it is becoming just another form of entertainment for the masses. The Netflix fans don't know the difference between a V10, a hybrid V6 or a beanie copter and don't care.
The turbo-hybrid era was all a farce. If your an engineer and love thermal efficiency, it's great. I just don't see it being used in the todays cars or future cars. Look at WEC with specific in the LMP1 program. Audi came out with a V4 monster which powered the front wheels electronically. That was years ago. I haven't seen that kind of tech used in most hypercars that were built 10 years ago. Even Bugatti uses the traditional AWD system in their current hypercars.
I understand that the US still import oil, from the Middle East, apart from its own production. Can you confirm that ? As long as Europe imports its energy, no matter which country sells it, it will not be fully independent. Reaching that goal should be the cornerstone of our policy, not relying on whoever is in the White House.
Gone is the time when teams could live supported by the oil industry, or the tyres manufacturers. The tobacco industry that bankrolled F1 during its expension period has been banned. F1 welcomes the big manufacturers as the next investors to keep the championship alive. But the carmakers came with some demands: F1 has to be relevent for them. They wanted to use F1 to research and showcase new technologies applicable to their car production. Every formula change since KERS was introduced has been a step towards full electrification one day. That's why a formula going back to previous technologies like atmo V10 would be of no interest to them. The purists may not like it, but that's a fact. You cannot put the genie back in the bottle.
Really ? Are you serious ? I think you should try to be better informed before making such statement. I see turbo hybrid cars sold here at Alfa Romeo (Tonale), Audi (A3, A5, Q3, Q5), Bentley ( Flying Spur, Bentayga), BMW (Serie2, 3, 5, 7, X1, X2, X3, X5, XM), Citroen, Cupra, DS, Ferrari !!! (296GT, SF Stradale), Ford (KUga, Explorer), Honda (Civic, HR-V, CR-V), Jaguar (E-Pace), Jeep (Renegade, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee), Land Rover (Evoque, Discovery, Defender, Velar, Range Sport, Range Rover),Lexus (ES, LS, LC, UX, NX, RX), Mazda (2, CX60), McLaren (Artura), Mercedes (Class A, CLA, Class B, Class C, Class E, AMG GT, GLA, GLC, GLE), Mini (Countryman), Mitsubishi (ASX, Eclipse), Nissan ( Qashqai, X-Trail, Opel (Astra, Grandland), Peugeot ( 308, 408, 3008, 5008, 508), Porsche (Panamera, Macan), Renault ( Captur, Megane, Arkana, Austral), SEAT (Leon), Skoda (Superb), Subaru ( Impreza, XV, Forester), Suzuki (Vitara, Swace, S-Cross, Across), Toyota (Yaris, Yaris Cross, Corolla, Prius, C-HR, RAV4, Highlander), Volkswagen ( Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Arteon), Volvo (XC40, S60, V60, XC60, XC90), and the list keeps growing every time a constructor does an update. All these cars are a farce, I guess. BTW, many constructors already offer full electric option on models in their range.
