The Evolution of Formula 1 Engines: From Water Pumps to Hybrids

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Formula One Forever

11 min readAug 25, 2023

Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, where the best drivers compete in the fastest and most technologically advanced machines. But what makes these machines so fast?

The answer lies in their engines, or power units, as they are called today. These are the heart and soul of every F1 car, and they have gone through a remarkable evolution over the years.

F1 engines are much more than just powerful machines that burn fuel and produce speed. They are complex systems that combine internal combustion, turbocharging, hybrid electric components, and sophisticated software to achieve incredible levels of efficiency and performance.

I will take you through the journey of F1 engines, and how these engines work (will try to keep it as non-technical as possible) from their humble beginnings as water pumps to their current state as hybrid marvels.

I will also highlight some of the major changes that have taken place pertaining to the engines over the last 70 years. So buckle up and enjoy the ride!

But first, let's get down to some basics and understand how an F1 engine actually works —

How do F1 Engines Work?

F1 engines are based on a common formula that is defined by the FIA, the governing body of the sport.

The current formula, which was introduced in 2014 and will remain in place until at least 2025, specifies that each team must use a 4-stroke 1.6 litre V6 engine with a single turbocharger and two hybrid electric systems.

The 4-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine consists of four phases: Intake, Compression, Power, and Exhaust.

In the intake phase, air and fuel are drawn into the cylinder through a valve.
In the compression phase, the piston moves up and squeezes the air-fuel mixture.
In the power phase, a spark plug ignites the mixture, causing an explosion that pushes the piston down and rotates the crankshaft.
In the exhaust phase, the piston moves up again and pushes out the burnt gases through another valve.

⭐ The V6 configuration means that there are six cylinders arranged in a V-shape, with three on each side of the engine block. The angle between the two banks of cylinders is 90 degrees, which helps balance the forces and vibrations generated by the engine.

⭐ The Turbocharger is a device that uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine, which in turn drives a compressor that forces more air into the engine. This increases the power output of the engine by allowing more fuel to be burned.

⭐ The Hybrid Electric systems are known as MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit — Kinetic) and MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit — Heat).

The MGU-K is connected to the crankshaft and can either harvest kinetic energy from braking or deliver electric power to boost acceleration.

The MGU-H is connected to the turbocharger and can either harvest heat energy from exhaust gases or deliver electric power to spool up the turbocharger faster.

Both MGU-K and MGU-H can store energy in a battery or use it directly.

⭐ The maximum permitted RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) of an F1 engine is 15,000, which means that each piston moves up and down 250 times per second. However, they are electronically limited to 12,000 as of the 2022 season to reduce costs and improve reliability.

⭐ The power output of an F1 engine is estimated to be over 1000 horsepower (hp), which is equivalent to about 750 kilowatts (kW).

Alfa Romeo 159 supercharged straight-8 engine

The most powerful engine — The BMW M12/13 Turbo, produced in excess of 1,400 horsepower.

How F1 Engines Have Evolved?

F1 engines have gone through many changes since the inception of the sport in 1950. The engine formula has been revised several times to reflect technological advancements, safety concerns, environmental issues, and sporting objectives.

Here are some of the most notable eras of F1 engine history —

The Early Days: 1947–1953

Formula 1 was born in 1947, when the FIA (the governing body of motorsport) established a set of rules for Grand Prix racing.

The rules allowed two types of engines:

4.5-litre atmospheric (or naturally aspirated) engines, or

1.5-litre supercharged engines.

Supercharging means using a device that forces more air into the engine, increasing its power output.

1.5 litre V12 Supercharged Engine from the Ferrari 125

The first F1 season was held in 1950 and featured seven races across Europe. The dominant engine at the time was the Alfa Romeo 158, a supercharged 1.5-litre straight-eight that produced around 350 horsepower. It was so powerful that it won all but one race in the first two seasons.

However, not all engines were as sophisticated as the Alfa Romeo. Some were actually derived from water pumps, such as the Coventry-Climax FPF, which was used by several British teams in the early 1950s.

It was a four-cylinder inline engine that came in various displacements, ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 litres.

A 2.5 L V8 in a Lancia-Ferrari D50 (1955–1956)

The Rise of Ferrari: 1954–1966

In 1954, the FIA changed the rules to allow only 2.5-litre atmospheric engines or 0.75-litre supercharged engines. This was done to reduce costs and increase reliability, as well as to encourage more manufacturers to enter the sport.

One manufacturer that took advantage of this change was Ferrari, which had been struggling to compete with Alfa Romeo in previous years. Ferrari developed a new engine, a 2.5-litre V12 that delivered over 250 horsepower.

It was nicknamed “the Lampredi engine”, after its designer Aurelio Lampredi.

A 2-liter Ferrari four-cylinder engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi; in a Ferrari 500 TR

Aurelio Lampredi (right), Enzo Ferrari (center) and Luigi Bazzi (left) next to a *Lampredi* inline-4

The Lampredi engine gave Ferrari an edge over its rivals, and helped them win their first drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 1956. It also proved to be very versatile, as it could be adapted to different configurations and displacements over the years.

Another notable engine from this era was the Maserati 250F, a six-cylinder inline engine that powered Juan Manuel Fangio to his fourth and fifth titles in 1954 and 1957. It was praised for its smoothness and responsiveness and was considered one of the best engines of its time.

The Cosworth Revolution: 1967–1985

In 1966, another rule change shook up the F1 engine scene. The FIA increased the maximum displacement for atmospheric engines to 3 litres, while banning supercharged engines altogether.

This meant that teams had to develop new engines from scratch or modify existing ones to fit the new regulations.

A Cosworth DFV 3-litre V8 Formula One engine

One team that faced this challenge was Lotus, which had been using Coventry-Climax engines until then. Lotus founder Colin Chapman decided to look for a new engine supplier and found one in Cosworth, a British company that specialized in tuning Ford engines for racing.

Cosworth agreed to design and build a new engine for Lotus, with financial support from Ford. The result was the Cosworth DFV (Double Four Valve), a 3-litre V8 that made its debut in 1967. It was an instant success, winning its first race with Jim Clark behind the wheel.

The Cosworth DFV was not only powerful (reaching over 400 horsepower by the end of its life), but also reliable, lightweight and cheap.

It became the most popular engine in F1 history, winning 155 races and 12 drivers’ and constructors’ championships between 1967 and 1983. It was used by almost every team at some point, except Ferrari, which stuck to its own V12 engines.

The Cosworth DFV also spawned several derivatives, such as the DFY, the DFR and the DFW, which were used until 1985. It was also the basis for the turbocharged Cosworth GBA, which was used by Benetton and Ligier in 1986 and 1987.

The Turbo Era: 1977–1988

While the Cosworth DFV dominated the F1 scene for almost two decades, a new technology was emerging that would challenge its supremacy: Turbocharging.

Turbocharging is a process that forces more air into the engine, increasing its power output. It also allows for smaller and lighter engines, which can improve the car’s handling and aerodynamics.

The first team to experiment with turbocharging in F1 was Renault, which introduced a 1.5-litre V6 turbo engine in 1977.

It was nicknamed “The Yellow Teapot”, because of its colour and its tendency to overheat and spew smoke. It was also very unreliable and laggy, meaning that there was a delay between the driver pressing the throttle and the engine delivering power.

However, Renault persisted with its turbo project, and gradually improved its engine over the years. By 1983, it had become a formidable force, winning four races and challenging for the title with Alain Prost. It also inspired other manufacturers to follow suit, such as Ferrari, BMW, Honda, Porsche and Ford.

A 1988 Honda RA168E Turbocharged V6 engine

The turbo era reached its peak in the mid-1980s, when the engines produced over 1000 horsepower in qualifying trim, and over 800 horsepower in race trim. The cars were incredibly fast, but also very dangerous, as they were prone to sudden bursts of power and torque that could catch out even the most skilled drivers.

The FIA decided to limit the power of the turbo engines by introducing a fuel limit of 150 litres per race in 1984, and a boost pressure limit of 4 bar in 1986. These measures reduced the power output to around 600–700 horsepower but also increased the complexity and cost of the engines.

The turbo era came to an end in 1988, when the FIA banned turbocharged engines altogether, and mandated a new formula of 3.5-litre atmospheric engines for 1989.

The V10 Era: 1989–2005

The new engine formula of 3.5-litre atmospheric engines opened up a new range of possibilities for the manufacturers. They could choose between different configurations and cylinder numbers, such as V8, V10 or V12.

The most common choice was the V10, which offered a good balance between power, weight and fuel efficiency.

The power output increased steadily from around 600 hp in 1989 to over 900 hp in 2005. The engines also became more reliable, with fewer failures and longer lifespans.

Ferrari Tipo 044/1 3.0-litre V12 F1 engine (1995)

One of the most successful V10 engines was the Honda RA109E, which powered McLaren to both titles in 1989. It was followed by the Honda RA100E, which did the same in 1990 and 1991. Honda’s V10 engines were renowned for their reliability and performance, as well as their distinctive high-pitched sound.

Another notable V10 engine was the Renault RS01, which debuted in 1992 and won six consecutive constructors’ championships with Williams and Benetton from 1992 to 1997.

It was also used by several other teams, such as Ligier, Lotus and Sauber. Renault’s V10 engines were praised for their drivability and fuel efficiency, as well as their innovative features such as pneumatic valves and a fly-by-wire throttle.

A 2004 Ferrari model 053 V10 engine of the Ferrari F2004

The V8 Era: 2006–2013

This was the second era where the engine formula was standardized for all teams, with a 2.4 litre V8 configuration being mandated by the FIA.

The power output decreased slightly from around 800 hp in 2006 to around 750 hp in 2013. The engines also became more restricted, with limits on RPM, fuel flow, and engine development.

Some of the most famous engines of this era were the Mercedes FO108Z V8, the Renault RS27 V8, and the Ferrari 056 V8.

The Turbo-Hybrid Era (2014-present)

This is the current era where the engine formula is standardized for all teams, with a 1.6 litre V6 turbo-hybrid configuration being mandated by the FIA.

The power output increased significantly from around 750 hp in 2014 to over 1000 hp in 2022. The engines also became more efficient, with less fuel consumption and lower emissions.

Some of the most famous engines of this era are the Mercedes PU106C Hybrid, the Ferrari 065/6 Hybrid, and the Honda RA621H Hybrid.

What Makes F1 Engines So Special?

F1 engines are special because they are the result of decades of innovation, competition, and passion. They are not just machines that make noise and speed, they are works of art that showcase human ingenuity and excellence.

They push the boundaries of what is possible in engineering, physics, and chemistry. They are not just devices that convert fuel into motion, they are systems that optimize every aspect of performance, efficiency, and reliability.

They are part of a sport that inspires millions of people around the world. They are not just tools for racing and winning, they are vehicles for entertainment and education.

F1 engines are special because they are more than just engines.

They create emotions and memories that last a lifetime. They are not just sources of power and thrill, they are symbols of glory and pride.