Faced with a change in Formula 1 regulations, such as the one that will take place in F1 in 2026 with the paradigm shift in terms of engines and aerodynamics, the vast majority of teams see it as a huge window of opportunity. After all, it is a fresh start for everyone, and the team that best adapts to the new context could usher in a new era of dominance. This also applies to those teams that will be introducing new engines in F1 in 2026.
A new dimension for F1 engines in 2026
Without a doubt, the most memorable and unique case of this is that of Brawn GP. In 2009, F1 significantly changed the rules of the game, and no one adapted better than Ross Brawn. The former technical director of Honda bought the team for one euro after the Japanese brand pulled out.
He renamed the team, changed engine suppliers (from Honda to Mercedes) and, together with the engineers who had stayed on from 2008, designed an unstoppable car. He won the Drivers’ Championship with Jenson Button and also the Constructors’ Championship. In November 2009, he sold the team structure to Mercedes. Today, it is Toto Wolff’s team, with Russell and Antonelli as drivers.
Now, F1 in 2026 wants to become a spectacle that is as sustainable as possible. One of the measures to achieve this goal has been to enhance the electric part of the cars. This is where most of the changes in the regulations have ended up. From the 2026 season onwards, Formula 1 cars will have a V6, 1.6 turbo combustion engine, as in 2025. However, their power will be around 500 hp (instead of this year’s 700 hp). This apparent loss is offset by a greater contribution of electrical energy, the ERS. This goes from 120 kW (about 160 hp) to 350 kW (around 470 hp). Approximately a 50-50 split.
In addition, the engines eliminate the MGU-H system. This was capable of obtaining energy from exhaust gases and transforming it into electrical power. However, it was an extremely complex and expensive mechanism to develop and, for example, Audi did not agree to become an F1 manufacturer until it was eradicated.
Electrification, a key condition
This is what makes Audi and Honda, for example, the manufacturers of the new power units that are seeking greater simplification of engines, but without forgetting the electrical part. In fact, for Honda, the fact that electrification will be more present from now on is the reason why they changed their mind about leaving F1.
So much so that in recent days they have already announced that without electrification, the Japanese will leave Formula 1. This is due to the proposal by Ben Soulayem, president of the FIA, who was interested in seeing the category return to the V8 combustion engines of yesteryear, in his case with a weaker hybridization. But Honda is not willing to do so.
Audi Sport
For Watanabe, president of HRC, intense hybridization would be a key condition for Honda’s presence in the premier class of motorsport. In fact, if the Japanese brand reversed its decision to leave F1—which was key to Red Bull’s decision to adopt its own engine—it was because the new 2026 F1 engines, the new power units, are heavily electrified. “Honda’s current position is that we believe electrification is a fundamental element in moving toward a sustainable future,” said Watanabe. That does not prevent him from admitting that the challenge they face is a daunting one.
Haas, Alpine, McLaren…: some F1 teams buy their engines and even their parts from the manufacturers
It should be noted, of course, that not all the teams participating in the Formula 1 World Championship, both next year and in 2026, manufacture the engines that will power their cars. Several teams choose to buy them from other brands, and several teams compete with the same engine. It is then up to the engineers and drivers to get the most out of that engine by combining it with the other parts and components that are their own.
For example, at the moment, Haas buys the entire package of power units from Ferrari, from the engines themselves to the electrical components. But it also buys part of the design and production of other parts from the Italian firm, as well as the chassis from Dallara. This is what is known as a customer team: creating their own concept but turning to the factory for other parts. McLaren and Aston Martin also receive Mercedes units, also acting as customer teams, but with some differences.
Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team
Because although McLaren uses Mercedes engines, the rest of the car is their own. In other words, they only use their power units. Their suspensions, chassis, design, and the concept created for the papaya-colored cars since 2021—when they rejoined forces—are exclusively from Woking. Andreas Seidl said it at the time.
“We are ‘just’ their customers. We had a clear goal: we wanted the world champion engine in our car, but that’s it. The rules ensure that customers receive the same material as the factory teams, so nowadays it is no longer a disadvantage to buy engines from manufacturers.” This is why, unlike in the past, McLaren does not use a single logo of the star brand on its cars, unlike Red Bull or Racing Bulls, for example. In fact, from 2000 to 2009, Mercedes owned 40% of the team’s rights. But that is no longer the case.
Aston Martin will stop working with Mercedes to join Honda as its preferred and exclusive partner
In the case of Aston Martin, the story is a bit different. Mercedes has been supplying the Silverstone team since the days of Force India and Racing Point with engines, electrical components, and the rest of the rear axle, including suspension, gearbox, and other parts. Unlike McLaren, Aston Martin will continue its technical partnership until the end of the year.
However, this will come to an end in F1 in 2026, when they will partner with Honda as their preferred and exclusive supplier. This means that no other team will use their engines for the next few years. To do this, they will have to manufacture their own parts, all of which are currently supplied by Mercedes.
Audi F1 will be a manufacturer and will have its own team
All this is what will change next season. Because yes, two new players are joining F1: Audi, which will take the place of Sauber, whose team it has acquired, and will assemble its own team as manufacturer and sole supplier, and Cadillac, which will be the 11th team on the grid, adding two more cars to the category.
Cadillac will use Ferrari engines in 2026 until 2028, when it will use its own (General Motors)
However, in the case of Cadillac, the story is different. Although it will make its debut this season, it will do so as a Ferrari customer team until the end of 2027. It will be then, in 2028, when the American manufacturer, backed by its parent company, General Motors, will compete in Formula 1 with its own equipment.
This is expected to happen gradually. In other words, in 2026, it will use both Ferrari engines and other Ferrari technology, similar to Haas; in 2027, it will rely solely on its own engines to design its own technical systems; and in 2028, it will be based entirely in its own factory thanks to the full support of General Motors, which will clearly be in charge of the Formula 1 team.
Red Bull-Ford Powertrains
Ford is also a partner-manufacturer-collaborator of Red Bull. The Americans have confirmed their return after a 22-year absence from the category and will do so alongside Red Bull and Racing Bulls, with whom they will work on the development of their engines.
This means there will be four cars with Red Bull Ford Powertrains engines, as the partnership will be known. The agreement is a “technical partnership” to collaborate jointly for at least four years. Interestingly, the last year Ford competed directly in Formula 1 was in 2004, when it sold its Jaguar team, now Red Bull. Now, the two will once again strengthen their ties.
Renault leaves Alpine and moves to Mercedes
First and foremost, it has been confirmed that there will be five engine manufacturers initially providing services to the 11 teams on the 2026 F1 grid: Honda, Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi, and Ford, becoming six in 2028 with the entry of General Motors, which will then manufacture its own engines for Cadillac.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that in 2024, even if confirmed and assured of its presence in 2026, Renault-Alpine, as they had agreed to be named, will not participate as a manufacturer. In other words, the Viry-Châtillon engines will not be in any team in this new era of F1.
For its part, Alpine will continue to race in the category, but will do so under Mercedes engines. The French team will inherit the supply line currently held by Aston Martin, which is leaving its vacancy with Brackley to take Honda engines.
At the time, the biggest surprise on this list was the absence of Porsche, which does not appear anywhere among the engine manufacturers for the next generation of engines. This would not be surprising if they had not openly announced their interest in entering the category, as another Volkswagen Group brand, Audi, has done. The Stuttgart-based company came very close to signing a deal with Red Bull similar to the one Ford has signed.
What engine will the teams be racing with in F1 2026?
- Ferrari: Will equip Ferrari, Haas, and Cadillac.
- Mercedes: Will supply McLaren, Mercedes, Williams, and Alpine.
- Honda: Will equip Aston Martin.
- Red Bull-Ford Powertrains: Will equip Red Bull and Racing Bulls.
- Audi: Audi F1 debuts with its own engine.