F1 faces crunch 2027 engine talks as 60/40 split plan hits opposition

Formula 1 is heading for critical negotiations in Canada this weekend over proposed 2027 engine changes, with the planned move to a 60/40 internal combustion-to-electric power split lacking the necessary support among manufacturers to go through.

Discussions follow a Miami meeting where a shift away from the current 50/50 split was agreed in principle, aiming to reduce end-of-straight speed losses and improve drivability. But implementing the change by 2027 has sparked a clear divide among the six power unit suppliers.

Why it matters:

The outcome will shape F1's competitiveness and spectacle for years. A successful tweak could make cars more intuitive to drive and reduce energy management, but failure to agree risks prolonging the current issues – or creating an uneven playing field.

The details:

• Split opposition: Only Mercedes and Red Bull currently back an immediate switch to 60/40 for 2027. The other four manufacturers – including Ferrari, Audi, and others – prefer waiting until 2028 or later.
• Cost concerns: Audi, still learning F1's complexities, argues that a $10 million+ redesign for 2027 is hard to justify under a budget cap. Minor adjustments might be acceptable, but a full overhaul is seen as unrealistic.
• Catch-up mechanism at risk: Ferrari is particularly worried that opening the rules would scrap the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) program, which allows them to close the gap to Mercedes. Losing that advantage could cement the current hierarchy.
• Drivers' views: Max Verstappen said the change would keep him in F1, while Carlos Sainz urged the FIA and FOM to be “tough” against political pushback.

What's next:

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and senior FIA officials will meet manufacturers in Montreal to try to bridge the gap. With four out of six suppliers needed to approve significant changes, a 2027 deadline looks unlikely without a breakthrough.

Charles Leclerc summed up the challenge: “To find something that makes sense for everybody and is fair… is a lot more complex than we initially thought.”