Legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey has warned the sport's massive regulation overhaul for 2026 could bring about the dawn of another Mercedes-esque era of domination.
Following an aerodynamic change for the 2022 season, the 2026 overhaul will include changes to both the aerodynamic and power unit regulations as part of the biggest technical overhaul the sport has seen in over a decade.
But instead of spicing up the racing and shaking up the sport's pecking order, Newey warned the restrictive aero rules will mean a good power unit will be crucial to making the cars competitive.
Former Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey. David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images
And should one manufacturer nail the shift – as Mercedes did for the radical hybrid overhaul for 2014 – their rivals will have little chance to catch up.
The 2014 engine regulation overhaul saw the sport move away from cars powered by a single combustion engine, to those powered by so-called hybrid 'power units', made up of a 1.6L turbo-charged V6 combustion engine, as well as a powerful electric engine.
Mercedes produced far and away the best power unit. It propelled to the next seven drivers' and eight constructors' championships before Max Verstappen was finally able to break through in the drivers' title in 2021.
But it took the 2022 aero rules for Mercedes' stranglehold on the constructors' title to finally be broken.
Mercedes dominated the sport following the 2014 engine overhaul. Pictured is Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix. Getty
"I can't remember another time in Formula 1 when both the chassis and engine regulations have changed at the same time," Newey, who has joined Aston Martin for 2025, told Auto Motor und Sport.
"In this case, the chassis regulations have very much been written to try and compensate, let's say, for the power unit regulations. So it's an extra dimension.
"Engine manufacturers will have learnt to an extent (from) the lack of preparation that the rivals to Mercedes did prior to that (2014) change, but there has to be a chance that one manufacturer will come out well on top and it'll be a power unit-dominated regulation.
"And there's a chance that if it's on the combustion engine side of it, that will last throughout the length of the formula, because the way the regulations are written it's quite difficult for people who are behind to catch up.
The FIA render of a 2026 F1 car. FIA
"If it's on the electrical side, there's much more ability to catch up."
In the 2026 regulations, only minor changes will be made to the combustion engine – mostly in relation to a switch to 100 per cent synthetic fuel – but the electrical engine will become three times more powerful.
After nearly two decades at Red Bull, Newey was poached by Aston Martin for 2025, to lead the team in designing its 2026 car.
Teams were allowed to begin work on their 2026 challengers on January 1.
The 2025 F1 season begins at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16.
