FIA President: The new PU ‘was the right thing to do’

Formula 1 will see the introduction in 2026 of a new power unit set to be more efficient as well as carbon net zero. The change in regulations brought along significant interest from big names in the industry, proving, according to the FIA President, that it was the right decision for the future of the sport.

The Circus is preparing for a new era in 2026. The new power unit not only is set to change the way in which drivers and teams approach the track while also being fully run on sustainable fuels, but it will also bring around new names on the grid. In particular, Ford will partner with Red Bull Racing while Audi will take over the Alfa Romeo team. Moreover, other manufacturers have expressed their interest in the sport with main names such as Andretti and Cadillac, and Porsche.

According to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the interest shown by such names proves the good work achieved by the sport in deciding its future, as he told Autosport: “The PU last year was the right thing to do. If we didn’t do it, do you really think Audi would have come and joined? That happened only after the PU was approved and all the teams signed it.

“We did it for the good of the sport. And it opened the door. Honda came, Ford joined, Porsche are deciding. I would say it is still warm with Porsche and Formula 1. All that happened for a good reason.”

F1: More teams for the future?

Now, the main goal for Ben Sulayem has shifted to attracting even more of the Chinese and American markets, possibly with new teams on the grid: “My dream is a full United States of America team from an OEM and I would like to also see an OEM from China.

“Everybody is allowed to have a dream. But it is also achievable. You have 1.4 billion people in China, and over 50% of your vehicles on the road, electric vehicles, are Chinese. That’s facts. It is a big market.”

The possibility to bring in more teams in the sport remains controversial within the Circus as many believe it to be too big of a risk for the existing teams to allow more seats at the table but may 2026 be the right time for the sport to open up to new manufacturers?

Headline Image: FIA