2025/2026 Hybrid Powerunit speculation

[dren]

First photo of the Honda released by them on Twitter

https://i.ibb.co/ZpmjrLxM/honda1.png
https://i.ibb.co/d0nHPp4V/honda2.png

Twin throttle bodies?
Benefits of a a pair of very low profile plenum chambers with no individual cylinder throttle control?
Allowing intercooler to be mounted above engine and rear (bell-housing?) mounted turbo?
AFAIK the split turbo set-up is no longer allowed and no requirement for MGU-H to conveniently mount within the V leaves quite a bit of volume available, would also allow for centreline intercooler and low engine cover height.

Just guessing!!!

Sounds reasonable to me. They'll definitely cram as much into that area now that the H is no longer there.

[dren]

At first glance look like variable length runner actuators, but seem to be mounted directly over the valve covers.

Which they aren't allowed to have.

Cold they be the high pressure pumps for the fuel?

Seems rather large for the pumps compared to past PUs.

[mzso]

First photo of the Honda released by them on Twitter

Maybe, they're just greeblies.

[vorticism]

Looks like two throttle bodies given that there are pivots intersecting them. There is a third charge pipe cover (gold colored) low at the front (could be one of two), which would presumably be arriving through the vee from the compressor. Brighten the photo and it's more visible. I had been wondering how long the inlet stacks would be sans VLIM. The answer here seems to be: very short. These could just be early development parts, so who knows. As for two throttles vs six: reduced pumping losses? I'd say a water-air intercooler could fit between these parts, otherwise, something else I had wanted to post, they stick with Newey's air-air intercooler place it atop the engine and cool it with air from the snorkel.

[BassVirolla]

At first glance look like variable length runner actuators, but seem to be mounted directly over the valve covers.

Which they aren't allowed to have.

Cold they be the high pressure pumps for the fuel?

Were variable intake runners allowed until 2025, right? I didn't know that they are not allowed anymore.

[haza]

For anyone wanting to hear a 2026 engine on track here’s Audi today

[vorticism]

There seems to be a few surprise freedoms within the turbocharger regs:

https://i.postimg.cc/3N591Byg/turbo-regs.png

F.e. the turbine isn’t demanded to be single-sided, only the compressor is. A dual outlet turbine could provide some new options for wheel ramp profiles and oulet area (think of a double-sided compressor wheel). Also, directionality of flow is not specified, so a radial-outlfow turbine could be pursued. Is the inlet:outet area ratio of a turbocharger turbine considered to be a limiting factor in terms of geometry and packaging?

The periphery of a cylinder has more surface area than its faces. The turbine must fit within a cylinder 40mm long x 100mm dia. Perhaps something like multi-stage expansion can be simulated within one stage by increasing the potential expansion ration. I don't mean this as a strong suggestion, it just seems to be a geometric possibility.


alt link:https://i.postimg.cc/KjttW0Nt/F126turbineconcepts.jpg

In general there is a looming question of: why is a gap of 7” permitted between the compressor and turbine wheels? And how could it be used. Another thought is it may have been requested by someone who wanted an over-the-shaft compressor inlet similar to previous years' Renault and Ferrari installations, except this time turned inward, presumably.

[diffuser]

There seems to be a few surprise freedoms within the turbocharger regs:

https://i.postimg.cc/3N591Byg/turbo-regs.png

F.e. the turbine isn’t demanded to be single-sided, only the compressor is. A dual outlet turbine could provide some new options for wheel ramp profiles and oulet area (think of a double-sided compressor wheel). Also, directionality of flow is not specified, so a radial-outlfow turbine could be pursued. Is the inlet:outet area ratio of a turbocharger turbine considered to be a limiting factor in terms of geometry and packaging?

The periphery of a cylinder has more surface area than its faces. The turbine must fit within a cylinder 40mm long x 100mm dia. Perhaps something like multi-stage expansion can be simulated within one stage by increasing the potential expansion ration. I don't mean this as a strong suggestion, it just seems to be a geometric possibility.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G-Ppm1mXoAA ... =4096x4096
alt link:https://i.postimg.cc/KjttW0Nt/F126turbineconcepts.jpg

In general there is a looming question of: why is a gap of 7” permitted between the compressor and turbine wheels? And how could it be used. Another thought is it may have been requested by someone who wanted an over-the-shaft compressor inlet similar to previous years' Renault and Ferrari installations, except this time turned inward, presumably.

Nice pics ...

Could the 7" limit exist primarily to control costs and prevent the use of a split turbo configuration, with the compressor on one side and the turbine on the opposite end of the ICE? It’s possible that beyond 7", axle-related costs begin to rise exponentially. This option appears to leave flexibility while controlling costs?

[Vappy]

For anyone wanting to hear a 2026 engine on track here’s Audi today

The 2025 engines were relatively quiet overall unless you were directly behind the exhaust and not super far away. When the wastegate opened on the ferrari and honda, they would become noticeablly louder. I would say, in comparison, the sound from the 2026 engine in this video gives me some hope.

[haza]

Definitely louder you can hear the car through out the entire lap pretty much even distorts the audio on fly by

https://x.com/insideaudif1/status/20097 ... 77979?s=46

[vorticism]

Could the 7" limit exist primarily to control costs and prevent the use of a split turbo configuration, with the compressor on one side and the turbine on the opposite end of the ICE? It’s possible that beyond 7", axle-related costs begin to rise exponentially. This option appears to leave flexibility while controlling costs?

Yes. 7" only spans about two cylinders. It can still be considered relatively split, though, compared to a typical turbocharger.

[Martin Keene]

First photo of the Honda released by them on Twitter

https://i.ibb.co/ZpmjrLxM/honda1.png
https://i.ibb.co/d0nHPp4V/honda2.png

Twin throttle bodies?
Benefits of a a pair of very low profile plenum chambers with no individual cylinder throttle control?
Allowing intercooler to be mounted above engine and rear (bell-housing?) mounted turbo?
AFAIK the split turbo set-up is no longer allowed and no requirement for MGU-H to conveniently mount within the V leaves quite a bit of volume available, would also allow for centreline intercooler and low engine cover height.

Just guessing!!!

They remind me of the blow off valves that Indy Car/Cart used to use. But they were regulation driven to control nobody pressure. So I’d be very surprised if an F1 ran one voluntarily.

[mzso]

The 2025 engines were relatively quiet overall unless you were directly behind the exhaust and not super far away. When the wastegate opened on the ferrari and honda, they would become noticeablly louder. I would say, in comparison, the sound from the 2026 engine in this video gives me some hope.

Definitely louder you can hear the car through out the entire lap pretty much even distorts the audio on fly by

https://x.com/insideaudif1/status/20097 ... 77979?s=46

It sounds exactly the same as 2025's cars. No need to imagine things.

[haza]

The 2025 engines were relatively quiet overall unless you were directly behind the exhaust and not super far away. When the wastegate opened on the ferrari and honda, they would become noticeablly louder. I would say, in comparison, the sound from the 2026 engine in this video gives me some hope.

Definitely louder you can hear the car through out the entire lap pretty much even distorts the audio on fly by

https://x.com/insideaudif1/status/20097 ... 77979?s=46

It sounds exactly the same as 2025's cars. No need to imagine things.

Engine notes is the similar yes but it is noticeably louder

[Vappy]

The 2025 engines were relatively quiet overall unless you were directly behind the exhaust and not super far away. When the wastegate opened on the ferrari and honda, they would become noticeablly louder. I would say, in comparison, the sound from the 2026 engine in this video gives me some hope.

Definitely louder you can hear the car through out the entire lap pretty much even distorts the audio on fly by

https://x.com/insideaudif1/status/20097 ... 77979?s=46

It sounds exactly the same as 2025's cars. No need to imagine things.

The tone isn't different. How loud, i.e. audible it is - to me - sounds different. You're welcome to your opinion and i'm welcome to mine.