Creating and Storing Energy

The unit is attached to the crankshaft and using magnets it acts as its own motor, previously adding 120kW (161 bhp) under past regulations to the total output, but with the 2026 regulations that number almost triples to 350kW. 

Not only does it act as a motor but it also acts as a generator. The motor aspect comes in when driving at high speeds, adding power directly to the engine. It acts as a generator but turning the kinetic energy into electrical energy to be used by drivers.

With all of the increase in power the units can only be deployed for brief moments of time. The regulations state that drivers can only deploy up to 4 MJ a lap, which calculates out to be roughly 11.5 seconds per lap.

The saved energy is kept in the Energy Store (ES) of the battery that allows drivers to recover it, adding performance and efficiency as well as helping with Formula One’s sustainability efforts with the decrease in fuel consumption.

Sustainability Emphasis

The new emphasis on the MGU-K units (16 kg requirement) furthers Formula One’s sustainability goals of being “net zero by 2030”. 

The split between petrol and electric has become very close to a 50/50 split with 400 kW being generated by the combustion engine and 350kW coming from the electric components. 

Even with the 53.3% of energy from the petrol with the combustion engine the sustainability efforts are in full swing. 

Formula One has recently completely switched over to a 100% sustainable fuel using non-fossil fuel sources. The advanced sustainable fuel comes from a mix of carbon capture, municipal waste, and non-food biomass. 

This new era of fuel was tested within the lower Formulas (F3 and F2) in 2024 with a 55% sustainability blend in 2024 that gave engineers within F1 an insight on what fully running the fuel would look like. In 2024 Formula One saw a 26% reduction in their overall carbon footprint, showing signs of improvement. 

Not only are the fuels used in Formula One sustainable but now the tyres used have also become more green. Formula One has a longstanding 16 year contract with Pirelli as the sole tyre manufacturer for the sport which has just recently been extended through the end of the 2028 season.

Last season Pirelli debuted their tyres with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo added to display their certification in being sustainable, a feat earned from the use of natural rubbers and other sustainable resources within the tyres themselves. 

Engineers Looking to Baku

The Baku City Circuit is one of the first circuits in which the max intensity and efficiency of the MGU-K units will be on display. The circuit’s many heavy braking zones should harvest the most energy seen from the MGU-K units all season. 

To see the MGU-K units in action to the fullest of their capabilities requires roughly 24.29 seconds of braking per lap, which is expected from the Baku City Circuit this year. 

In past years drivers have braked for 20.7 seconds per lap around the circuit but with the new 2026 regulations there has been a trend of a 20% increase in braking time per lap. The 20% increase in braking time brings the expected amount of time braking per lap to 24.87 seconds.

The expected braking time of 24.87 seconds per lap should see the MGU-K units being used to the fullest extent, allowing engineers to see how the units perform maxed out.