F1, FIA approve wet Boost Mode tweak and 2027 engine overhaul
NXTbets Pro | Published On: June 23, 2026
Boost Mode changes
Formula 1’s World Motor Sport Council approved a package of rule changes that will affect race operations in 2026 and reshape engine rules for 2027 and beyond. The most immediate move restores Boost Mode in wet conditions for the rest of the 2026 season, but only in limited form. In the rain, Boost Mode will keep power delivery up on straights, giving drivers a cleaner run through the fastest parts of a lap. Its overtaking function will stay disabled for safety, so the system will not become a wet-weather passing aid. The council also revised the Heat Hazard process. Officials can now make that declaration separately for sprint weekends and grand prix weekends, and teams will get 24 hours’ notice before the event. When the declaration is made, the response will require either cooling vests or added ballast for drivers. The changes give Formula 1 more control over two areas that affect weekend running the most, traction in wet races and driver protection in extreme heat, without opening the door to unrestricted performance gains in either case.
Engine overhaul
The bigger shift comes in Formula 1’s engine rules, which will move to a 58-42 combustion-to-electric split in 2027 before changing again to 60-40 in 2028. The revised framework is built around a stronger combustion side and a more managed electric contribution. In 2027, combustion output will rise by about 20 kW and maximum ERS capability will fall by 50 kW. The FIA also set MGU-K power at 300 kW, kept overtake mode at 350 kW and increased maximum energy harvesting to 400 kW. Fuel flow will rise by 5% in 2027 and by 13% in 2028. By 2028, ICE output will reach 450 kW, or 600 bhp. The changes point to a power unit that leans more on the engine for raw pace while preserving electric assistance in a controlled way. Formula 1 and the FIA are building a package that keeps the cars fast, but changes how that speed is produced across a lap and across a race distance.
Testing, racing
The regulation package also adds practical changes for the cars and the race weekend itself. Pre-season testing for the 2027 cars will expand from three days to four days, giving teams an extra day to gather data on the next engine formula. The rules will also allow slightly shorter race distances and fewer reconnaissance laps at some circuits when needed, a sign that the calendar and venue mix can still force adjustments at the operational level. The FIA said the engine changes are meant to make qualifying more “flat-out” while preserving the quality of racing. The longer-term framework is also designed to reduce the need for major hardware changes. That gives manufacturers a steadier target as Formula 1 moves deeper into the next engine cycle. The package links short-term race management with a broader power-unit reset, and it does so with a clear priority, keep the cars fast, keep the racing intact and avoid forcing teams into constant redesigns.
