Adrian Newey has conceded that F1’s new rules for 2026 could place more emphasis on⛎ having a strong engine rather th♛an a strong chassis.

F1 wil🐼l transform in 2026 with entirely new technical regulations that will change the cars drastically.

With the removal of the MGU-H, the power units are beco꧂ming more electrified and will be run on sustainable fuels.

🐟The cars are becoming slightly smaller, with adjustable bodywo🐼rk also part of the new rules.

However, the key to domina🌠ting the new rules c▨ould be the power unit rather than the chassis design.

This was the case in 2014, w♕hen Mercedes stole a march on the rest of the field.

Newey, who was still part of Red Bull, couldn’t make up the deficit fro🐻m their Renault power unit.

, Newey said of the 2026 rules: ”The reality is I can’t remember another time in Formula 1 when both the chassis regulations and the regulations have changed simultaneously.

“And in this case the chassis regulations have been very much writte🅷n to try to compensate, let’s say, fo🌠r the power unit regulations.

“So, it’s an extra dimension. I think engine manufacturers will have learnt to an extent on the lack of preparation that the riva😼ls to Mercedes did prior to that change [for 2014] but there has to be a chance that one manufacturer will come out well on top and it’ll become a power unit-dominated regulation, at least to start with.”

One F1 team could dominate from 2026

Ne✱wey is adamant that one engine manufactu♌rer could dominate from 2026 if they excel on the combustion side of the engine.

For 2026, Mercedes, Ferra🌠ri, Red Bull-Ford, Honda, and Audi will all supply൩ power units to the grid.

“There’s a chance, if it’s on the combustion engine side of it that somebody comes up wi༺th a dominant combustion engine, that will l🃏ast through the length of the formula,” Newey added.

“Because the way the regulations are written, it’s quite difficult for p𒉰eople who are behind to catch up.

“If it’s on the electrical side, then there’s much more ability to catch up if you’re behi𝓀nd.”