Although we are still in the first quarter of the 2025 F1 World Championship, expectations are already looking ahead to 2026. The change in regulations, and above all the change in engines, mark the beginning of a new era in the Grand Circus, and many are eagerly awaiting to see which team will take the lead. As things stand today, Mercedes and Honda seem to be building the best power unit.
The 2026 engines
Next season’s F1 engines will be radically different from the current regulations. We are talking about hybrid engines, 55% combustion and 45% electronics. As for gasoline, we are talking about 100% sustainable fuels. These are the main changes that are causing a headache for engine distributors.
In this regard, it seems that the Mercedes power unit is the most advanced, but the information coming out of Honda is quite encouraging, so, as has happened in the last era, it seems that both will fight for supremacy.
The other power units seem to be a step behind, but no one should be ruled out, especially Ferrari, which, although not very happy with the new regulations, is expected to find the right formula one day. In this regard, the new team for 2026, Cadillac, is closely monitoring developments, as it has opted for these engines for its new adventure in the Grand Prix.
Another unknown is Red Bull and its alliance with Ford: the Austrian team is a winning team, and although the news is not encouraging, they have already proven their competitiveness, but it is said that they regret not having bet on Honda again.
Finally, we come to Audi, a big unknown that does not look promising. The team is entering F1 by absorbing Sauber with its own power unit. The news does not paint a good picture, and the lack of experience suggests a difficult start in F1.
Which engines will each team use?
The Mercedes engine is the most widely used engine in F1, so depending on the car each team builds, if they manage to get the best power unit, they will be contenders for the top spots. These teams are McLaren, Mercedes, Williams, and Alpine. For its part, Ferrari will be the other team to supply its engine, to Cadillac. Red Bull will be with Ford, Aston Martin with Honda, and Audi will have its own power unit.
The betting odds indicate that the strongest teams for the upcoming season are Mercedes and Aston Martin. Although Mercedes distributes its own power unit, it has the advantage over the rest in that it has known for a long time how it will perform, so it stands to reason that it will be able to prevail over the rest.
The other rival to watch out for is Aston Martin. Its exclusive Honda engine, which is expected to be up to the task, and the presence of Adrian Newey for the design of the car make it one of the rivals that could revolutionize F1.
Next year is getting closer and closer, and there is growing excitement to find out which engine will dominate the grand circus and which team will be able to understand the new regulations. It is a great challenge for everyone, with new rules and new expectations. In theory, everyone is starting from scratch, but it already seems that we have two clear favorites, Mercedes and Aston Martin. In the end, it will be the track and the asphalt that will put everyone in their place.