Why hybrid power isn’t in F2’s future plans

Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel has conceded it would be “impossible” for the championship to switch to a hybrid powertrain in the future.

With Formula 1 leading the way with hybrid technology in single-seaters and IndyCar recently adapting its own iteration, being introduced to its intricacies at a junior level is becoming more important.

Asked if F2 had considered making the change, Michel said: “What Formula 1 has in terms of hybridisation is not something that we could afford, it is very simple. It is impossible, otherwise we would multiply the cost of a season by three.

“We’ve looked at what IndyCar is doing and we had a few discussions with them to see if it was adaptable to us and, to be perfectly honest, I thought that the cost compared to the advantages that it would bring was almost zero.

“We took the decision to go into a more sustainable approach with the fuel and we are very much in advance with that on every other category.”

F2 currently runs using 55% sustainable Aramco fuel but will next year increase this proportion to 100% – this coming before F1 makes the change in 2026.

“We are going with 100% sustainable fuel next year, still biofuel,” Michel added. “We are going to be the first to use synthetic fuel very, very soon after, and that is the approach that we are taking.”

Explaining that developments to the fuel injection will be required to adapt to the new fuel as well as a “few changes” on the engine, Michel concluded: “Of course, we are constantly improving and working on the engine.

“We will have an engine next year in F2 which is a little bit different from the one we have this year, and we are also doing development to accommodate the Aramco fuel, because we are going to 100% sustainable fuel for next year.”