Carlos Sainz has pleaded with the FIA and F1 to “stand firm and believe in what is right for the sport” with the 2027 rule changes at risk of collapse.
For next season, F1 was set to change the engine rules to a 60:40 power output split from the much-heralded 50:50 split between the Internal Combustion Engine and 350kw battery systems.
ApexF1News has reported that a critical meeting is to take place over the Canadian GP weekend, with the power unit manufacturers split over whether to implement the 60:40 split for 2027 or delay until 2028.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, GPDA director Sainz has urged the FIA and F1 to do what is best for the sport.
“From what I hear, there is a very interesting proposal for 2027, a proposal that goes exactly in line with where I think the sport should go,” Sainz told media, including ApexF1News.
“Unfortunately, like always in this sport, there will be politics involved and different interests involved across the main manufacturers, which will push back and push forward, depending on what they’re looking for.
“That’s why, if anything, from here, I can ask the FIA and FOM to be tough with what they believe is the right thing for the sport, and even if you need to vote, and I don’t know how the system works in the F1 Commission, but that they stand firm and believe in what is right for the sport.
“Because in Miami, we saw a small step forward, it is still not where F1 should be, but it is a very positive and interesting set of changes for 2027, and if you would just ask the drivers, we would all be in favour of pushing in that direction.
“For us as drivers, it will never be enough, what we all love, if there is electrical, it that it should be an add-on rather than a dependency on electrical power.
“We’ve had cars in the previous PU regulations where the electrical felt more like an add-on, on top of what was already a solid PU, and for drivers, purists, and even journalists, we all believe that a 60:40 split is probably still not enough, but it is at least something you can race with until real racing and real engines come back in 2030.”
