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ARTICLE · 18 JUNE 2025

Formula 1's Next Engine Formula: Power, Politics, And Patents

Formula 1 is on the cusp of a significant transformation, with the sport considering drastic changes for its next set of engine regulations. Ethan Silverstone, patent attorney and former F1 engineer...

United KingdomIntellectual Property

Formula 1 is on the cusp of a significant transformation, with the sport considering drastic changes for its next set of engine regulations. Ethan Silverstone, patent attorney and former F1 engineer, considers the strategic IP decisions going on behind the scenes.

2026 will see the introduction of a new engine formula in F1, an iteration on the current hybrid system with increased efficiency and, for the first time, a 50-50 split between the electrical and internal combustion power sources. However, the sport's focus is already shifting to the next generation of engines, and rumours of a radical revolution – the return of V10 engines - have been surfacing in the paddock. Negotiations over the 2030 engine formula are about more than success on track: it's a battle of philosophies, strategic interests, and, crucially, intellectual property.

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