21 May 2026motorsportAnalysisCommentary

F1 to Shift Power Unit Split to 60-40 in Favor of ICE, but Alonso Remains Skeptical

F1 and the FIA have agreed in principle to adjust the power unit balance to 60% internal combustion, 40% electric for 2027. Fernando Alonso argues it won't fix the underlying issues that reward slow cornering and reduce overtaking to a battery-dependent 'avoiding action.'

Following tweaks introduced ahead of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, F1 and the FIA are taking another step for the 2027 season: an agreement in principle to change the power unit split to 60-40 in favor of the internal combustion engine. Technical details are still being finalized, but discussions center on fuel flow adjustments and reducing electric power by 50 kW. Despite this move, Fernando Alonso believes the change is cosmetic and won't address the fundamental problems with the current regulations.

Why it matters:

The shift signals that F1's leadership is listening to driver complaints about the 2014-era turbo hybrids making racing artificial. However, Alonso warns that as long as the DNA of these power units rewards conserving battery and running slowly through corners, overtaking will remain a matter of who has more energy rather than skill. This debate affects the quality of racing for fans and the sport's long-term direction.

The details:

The FIA and F1 have agreed in principle to a 60-40 ICE-to-electric split for 2027, a reversal from the current 50-50 balance.
Alonso called the change insufficient: “The DNA of these power units will always be the same. It will always reward going slow in the corners.”
He argued that overtaking has become an “avoiding action” — if one driver has more battery, the other clips power, making the pass meaningless.
Verstappen's Nürburgring 24H outing last weekend was partly driven by these frustrations, but Alonso sees it as positive cross-pollination: “Top drivers opening fans' eyes to other series. F1 is just 1% of motorsport.”

What's next:

With the 2027 regulation change still under negotiation, drivers like Alonso and Verstappen continue to push for a more fundamental overhaul in the next engine cycle (post-2030). Alonso’s blunt assessment suggests that without a complete rethink of the power unit philosophy, F1 risks losing the “pure racing” he says it has lacked for nearly a decade.