Next weekend, IndyCar will debut its first-ever hybrid powertrains at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, joining Formula 1 in an era of electrification. But how do those two hybrid engines compare? Formula 1 introduced hybrid power units back in 2014, and the series will introduce its latest evolution on the technology in 2026. Thanks to the smaller nature of IndyCar, the American open-wheel series has been far slower to adopt a similar set of technology.
Today, we’re comparing power unit specs head to head in order to get a better sense of what the IndyCar machines will be like out on track. Before we get started delving into the specifics of the hybrid powertrains in different open-wheel racing series, let’s start with a quick overview about the history of engine development in both F1 and IndyCar. Formula 1 is often hailed as the pinnacle of motorsport technology.
Though there have been some hiccups along the way, F1 rulesets generally strive to implement the latest and greatest trends when it comes to automotive and motorsport technology — whether that be in engine displacement, aerodynamics, or even software. By contrast, IndyCar has often balanced its push for technological growth with its desire to keep on-track action affordable and competitive. Part of that stems from the fact that different factions of American open-wheel racing have had different goals and intentions for the sport in mind — and so the sport has been unable to progress in the same linear fashio.