Alonso: F1 Lost 'Pure Racing' With Hybrid Engines

Fernando Alonso believes Formula 1 sacrificed more than a decade of “pure racing” in its pursuit of hybrid power, as the FIA pushes to rein in the sport’s growing reliance on electrical energy.

Why it matters:

The two-time world champion’s critique lands as the sport scrambles to correct course on its 2026 engine regulations. Drivers have complained of unnatural driving styles — lifting early, coasting, and deliberately running below grip limits to recharge batteries. If Alonso is right, the foundational DNA of these power units may remain flawed regardless of tweaks.

The details:

• Alonso suggested the sport’s misstep dates to the 2014 switch to hybrid V6 turbos. “They always listen,” he said of the FIA, “but unfortunately we had this period from 2014 with the turbo era … that we lost nearly a decade or more of pure racing.”
• The FIA recently announced plans to adjust the combustion-to-electrical power ratio from roughly 50-50 to 60-40 for 2027, increasing fuel flow and lowering electrical output. This move is widely seen as an admission that the current formula is fundamentally broken.
• But Alonso remained skeptical: “The DNA of these power units will always be the same, and it will always reward going slow in the corners.”

What's next:

The proposed 2027 changes are not finalized. Because they are not safety-related, they must pass through the Power Unit Advisory Committee, likely with input from the Technical Advisory Committee. Teams will need to assess the impact on car design — including larger fuel cells and weight distribution — meaning the process could slow significantly. The final outcome will shape whether F1 can truly recover the “pure racing” Alonso values.