Where the 50/50 split is showing its flaws, the FIA has decided to drop to a 60/40 split. The drawings might have been crude, and my suggestion was a two-cell setup; instead, they’ve opted for the V6 (or V8), and I really can’t say what the results will be honestly, for better or for worse.
What I can say is that there are some strong arguments out there, like Vettel’s push for bio-sustainable fuel and ditching the hybrid system altogether. Apparently, the batteries aren’t being charged quickly enough to provide that extra power when needed. If you listen to the debate, that’s all the system was intended to do: give extra torque when required.
To stay on the topic of the battery: did you know a professional F1 driver brakes on average 5 to 11 times per lap? That means in a 50-lap race, they are hitting the pedal up to 550 times. Currently, the engine charges the battery through harvesting during up and downshifts, but I hear no one talking about solutions. Can’t the same harvesting protocols be applied to the brakes more effectively? 550+ taps is a lot of wasted energy.
As for Lewis, my thoughts are the same as everyone else’s. If the man’s happy with a Kardashian over an 8th title, then who am I to complain? I’m not being sarcastic or throwing shade; as they say, it’s a “Kardashian-sized blast radius” that he doesn’t want to get away from. I agree with that his life off the track is his own. What bothers me is his inability to move past P6 or P7; it’s like he’s the only person in the class not participating. Whether his replacement is being considered or not, the supposed contracts last until the end of 2027, and only then will I evaluate his season performance.
A 60/40 split doesn’t mean the concept is scrapped; they are just moving to a more ICE-reliant (Internal Combustion Engine) setup.
Key Notes on the Technical Side:
- The Split: In your draft, you mentioned they “opted for the V8.” Since the 2026 regulations are built around a V6 turbo, I kept the V6 reference, though I left your V8 mention in brackets in case you were referring to a specific alternative proposal you’ve heard.
- MGU-K vs. MGU-H: You hit on a massive point with the braking. Under current (and 2026) rules, the MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic) does exactly what you suggested it harvests energy under braking. The “flaw” people are worried about with the 50/50 split is that even with heavy braking, there isn’t enough “harvestable” energy on some tracks to keep the battery deployed for a full lap, leading to “clipping” (running out of juice) on long straights.
- Lewis & P6: The “Kardashian blast radius” is a vivid way to put it. It’ll be interesting to see if the 2027 timeline holds or if the “class participation” drops even further before then.
