Team principals and CEO on 2026 engines: ‘Have to find the best solution’

The new 2026 engine regulations have been in the talks at the British Grand Prix. Defending champion Max Verstappen has already told GPblog among others yesterday on the issue, here is what the team principals of Aston Martin, and Williams and the CEO McLaren, Zak Brown think about this issue, while all of their teams are all participating in their home Grand Prix this weekend.

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack put the importance on being careful. "I think the working groups are on it already for a while, a bit more than a year already that we're working on it. I think we need to be careful. Some of the regulations that we have in ‘26 were instrumental for people to come back, Honda in this case, or for others to join. So we cannot dilute them now just because we have another look at it a bit later."

His solution is to work together, in order to satisfy everybody: "I think it is important that we work together as teams with the FIA, with F1, to find the best possible solution for these new tasks, new regulations, with a more equal split between the different energies. And I think time will tell. There is working groups going on. There was one on Thursday, I understand. So I'm quite confident that we'll find a proper product."

Zak Brown and James Vowles, who both have Mercedes enginess in their cars, also remained confident. Zak Brown said: "Yeah, ultimately not concerned because everyone in Formula One are extremely smart. So whatever the final regulations are, they'll figure it out. We have a great partner in Mercedes-Benz who has a fantastic history in the sport. So they do keep us in the loop. Obviously, we have an interest in making sure that the regulations are fit for purpose. But I have no doubt they will be, not even on the power unit side, but the chassis side as well. And there's still work in progress."

Vowles also agreed with Aston Martin's representative, Krack. "As Mike said, it was the attack on Thursday where this is being talked about continuously. And we'll arrive at a solution. The direction of travel is quite clear. Moving to sustainable fuels means to an engine formula that is prescribed. Now we just need to put a package around it that is good for the show. But the direction of movement is one where we're working together."

On working with Mercedes, both Vowles and Brown agreed on they currently have a great relationship. "I think in any power unit regulation change you can win or you can lose out as a result of it. Mercedes did a very very good job across the 2013-14 change as an example of that," Vowles said. "My view on things is that whoever you go with you'll forge your alliance, and I think it will settle down to a very sensible position very quickly shortly afterwards."

Brown continued: "We've got a great partnership with Mercedes. Pretty hard to imagine them not getting it right regardless of wherever the final rules net out, and it's always a combination isn't it of driver, chassis and power unit to put out a competitive car, so I don't think that'll be any different."