Which powertrain manufacturers will be active in Formula 1 in the 2026 season and with which engines the individual teams will compete
The 2026 Formula 1 regulations not only provide for a new look for the race cars, but also for a new powertrain concept. The key questions are: Which drive manufacturers will take on this technical challenge? And which teams will be equipped by which brands? This article provides an overview of the topic of Formula One drive 2026!
What will the engine format look like in 2026?
The new Formula 1 powertrain regulations are based on the current engine format. Turbo-hybrid powertrains with 1.6-liter V6 internal combustion engines and hybrid components will remain. However, the latter will be simplified in 2026 and their importance for the overall performance of the powertrain will be significantly increased.
Specifically, this means that the electric power output will be increased from 120 kW at present to 350 kW. At the same time, the power of the combustion engine will be reduced from around 550 kW to 400 kW. This means that the total system output will remain at around 1,000 hp.
The motor-generator unit that taps and converts heat energy (MGU-H) will no longer be used in 2026. This simplifies the drive design and reduces overall costs.
Which drive manufacturers will be in Formula One in 2026?
In the 2026 Formula One season, the following manufacturers will be represented in the field with their own powertrains: Audi, Ferrari, Honda, Mercedes and Red Bull/Ford. So there will be five different powertrains.
Audi will make its Formula One debut in 2026 and will compete as an Audi works team. Honda had withdrawn from Formula One at the end of 2021 and will make its comeback as an engine supplier in 2026.
Which current powertrain manufacturers will no longer be competing in 2026?
Renault has decided to stop developing its own powertrains for the Alpine Formula One team. This means that from 2026, the French group will no longer be active as a powertrain manufacturer, but only as a designer – via its subsidiary Alpine.
This marks the end of an era for Renault: the manufacturer has been involved in Formula 1 as an engine supplier since the 1980s, achieving 134 Grand Prix victories during this time. Highlights include title wins with Williams and Red Bull, as well as the 1995 World Championship victory with Michael Schumacher and Benetton.
Which teams will be driving with which powertrain in 2026?
Alpine: Parent company Renault is discontinuing the development of its own Formula One powertrains and will no longer be represented with its own engine in 2026. It is not yet known which customer powertrains the Alpine team will use then.
Aston Martin: For its Formula One comeback, the Japanese manufacturer Honda has entered into an exclusive partnership with Aston Martin. This means that in 2026, Honda will only equip Aston Martin with Formula One powertrains.
Audi: The German manufacturer Audi is developing its own powertrains for Formula One and will only supply its own Audi factory team (previously: Sauber) with these engines in its debut year in 2026.
Ferrari: The traditional Italian Formula One team Ferrari has always built its own powertrains and will continue to use its own engines in the new regulatory era from 2026.
Haas: Since its inception, the US team Haas has been a Ferrari customer team. This will not change: Haas has extended its Ferrari engine contract.
McLaren: The proven collaboration between the British team McLaren and Mercedes as the German powertrain manufacturer will continue for 2026. The existing contract has been extended accordingly.
Mercedes: The German brand Mercedes has always used its own engines in Formula 1. This will remain the case under the new technical regulations.
Racing Bulls: In 2026, the Red Bull Group’s “B team” will receive its own engines from Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) for the first time, which are being developed in collaboration with Ford.
Red Bull: Just like sister team Racing Bulls, Red Bull will rely on its own engines from 2026, developed and used by Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT).
Williams: The British Formula One team Williams has extended its engine partnership with Mercedes for several more years, meaning it will remain a customer team of the German brand.
Which manufacturers will supply which teams in 2026?
- Mercedes (3): McLaren, Mercedes, Williams
- Ferrari (2): Ferrari, Haas
- Red Bull/Ford (2): Racing Bulls, Red Bull
- Audi (1): Audi
- Honda (1): Aston Martin
Which teams are changing their engine partner for the 2026 season?
Alpine: As a subsidiary of Renault, Alpine has so far used Renault powertrains in Formula 1. This will change after the end of Renault’s engine development in Viry-Chatillon. It is not yet known which engine partner Alpine will get in 2026.
Aston Martin: Formula One team Aston Martin has so far purchased powertrains from Mercedes, but is switching to Honda after five years.
Audi: Newcomer Audi is starting a new era in 2026 with the team, which will have been known as Sauber in Formula One by then. For many years, Sauber was an engine customer of Ferrari. In the future, the power will come from Audi powertrains.
Racing Bulls: So far, Racing Bulls has been using the former Honda engines, which were serviced and further developed by Red Bull Powertrains. In 2026, the team will switch to the complete in-house development of Red Bull/Ford.
Red Bull: Red Bull will also move away from Honda engines in 2026 and towards powertrains developed in-house by Red Bull Powertrains/Ford.
How long have the teams been with their engine partners?
- From 2026: Alpine (still open)
- From 2026: Aston Martin (Honda)
- From 2026: Audi
- From 2026: Racing Bulls (Red Bull)
- From 2026: Red Bull
- Since 2021: McLaren (Mercedes), until 2030
- Since 2016: Haas (Ferrari), until 2028
- Since 2014: Williams (Mercedes), at least until 2030
- Since 2010: Mercedes
- Since 1950: Ferrari
