2025/2026 Hybrid Powerunit speculation

[wuzak]

There is already multiple times the energy storage than the regulations allow (4MJ) for the cell weight allowed.

Is it future proofing for a possible modification in the regulations later, where more discharge would be allowed from battery ?

It's likely that there will be a reduction in recovery/deployment energy allowed in the future as the 2026 rules are already extremely difficult to recover enough energy.

It would require a massive increase in recovery power for it make sense, but only then if the discharge power is lower.

Otherwise you end up with the 2026 situation, but with more power.

[gruntguru]

[(a) Overall weight will decrease by ~30kg.
(b) If ICE energy sent to the wheels is to fall from 700 units to 300 as you say, the 2026 ICE max power must be less than 300/700 (43%) x 2025 ICE max power. (In energy terms, the delivery for each ICE will be the same when demand is equal or less than the 2026 max power.) At a rough guess, your numbers would put 2026 max power at 35%-40% of 2025 max power! I don't see anyone predicting that! In fact ICE power is predicted to be more than 375 KW - down from 630 KW (so 60% not 35%)

Many are predicting more than 375 KW, putting peak PU output greater than 2025 in a lighter, more slippery car. These cars will accelerate harder and have a higher top speed. High speed cornering will be slower.

My numbers were just heuiristics, but even then, I was talking about 'energy units', not horsepower.

Yes - so was I (as well as power). Perhaps you should read my post more carefully.

The peak horsepower from ICE was 800hp in 2025, the same is going to be 500hp in 2026, as the regulations clearly say (80% share to 50% share). I am not sure how you arrived at 35% (I never claimed any peak HP number) from my 'energy units' numbers. My claim is - because the share of the fuel+charge energy split has removed the bias towards fuel, it's has a double whammy effect - not only is the fuel's overall contribution weakend, it has to spend much more than in 2025, towards recharging the battery - a double whammy, resulting in a much lesser contribution by fuel to the wheels.

This assumes the fuel energy available is the same - which it is not. There is no fuel limit only the instantaneous "fuel rate limit" (up to 3,000 MJ/hr). The 2026 ICE will be operated at or near maximum output for a much greater percentage of a lap resulting in a similar or greater energy output per lap.