Method 1 is trying to find its id: the brand new rules are nonetheless unclear, though engine producers have been engaged on the 2026 energy items for not less than 4 years, investing closely. However it’s not simply the producers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Audi, Crimson Bull Powertrains) engaged within the analysis—suppliers are additionally working silently, with out visibility, on progressive options, driving supplies analysis that would rework merchandise and contribute to efficiency good points.
Whereas discussions proceed over how energy needs to be divided (rumors recommend 50% electrical and 50% inside combustion in qualifying, however 150 kW can be faraway from the electrical aspect throughout races to keep away from charging points at circuits with decrease power restoration like Monza, Jeddah, Las Vegas, and Baku), some are already deeply concerned in defining options that might want to work whatever the remaining guidelines authorized…
Because of its experience, UFI Filters has earned the belief of all ten groups presently on the F1 grid: the Verona-based firm provides every staff with round a dozen filters (starting from 11 to 17), every of which is “tailor made” by way of co-design with the groups, making each factor distinctive.
The 2026 rules increase the technological problem with more and more excessive fields of analysis. UFI Filters will intervene on a number of elements of F1 automobiles: engine oil, engine air filter, and hydraulic circuits that management DRS, energy steering, and brakes, the place filtration is crucial to make sure driver security. There are additionally filters for dielectric fluids utilized in thermal administration of the battery and hybrid system temperatures.
In brief, the scope of motion could be very broad, and it’s attention-grabbing to find what’s going to change for UFI Filters with the brand new energy items and the introduction of e-fuels…
“Within the inside combustion engine, we assist optimize efficiency,” explains Davide Moletta, Excessive Tech Division Supervisor at UFI Filters. “At this stage, speaking about 100% artificial gas is extra of a advertising operation. From 2026 to 2030, fuels will comprise solely 20% ethanol and can nonetheless be petroleum-derived. The true shift to artificial will are available in 2030, when ARAMCO will launch the bottom recipe to different producers. It gained’t be a single-spec gas, however fairly a base chemical formulation launched by ARAMCO, the Saudi firm working with the FIA. Then, producers will have the ability to customise their fuels in line with their wants: detonation, combustion kind, and timing.”
Are paddock rumors true that the perfect gas might provide a 30-horsepower benefit?
“Within the high-pressure gas circuit, not one of the producers have reached the five hundred bar restrict allowed by the foundations. Some have pushed to 300–320 bar, however that’s already a threshold the place issues begin. Inside a fluid, which consists of assorted chemical parts, you must management the stress and temperatures. Past a sure level, chemical reactions can ignite, resulting in fluid acidification or NOx emissions within the exhaust.”
“The engine is sort of a violin that wants tuning,” provides UFI Filters president Giorgio Girondi. “Some handle it properly, others much less so. We use metal for the filtering half and titanium for the steel parts. Their traits be sure that even with full filter blockage on the circuit’s most upstream pump stress, there isn’t a leakage. Our filter gained’t collapse or explode, so the automobile stops, however the engine isn’t compromised. You simply want to switch the filter, and the automobile can restart…”
Are you testing progressive options by no means utilized in F1 for subsequent 12 months?
“With filtering media,” continues Davide Moletta, “we always obtain up to date formulation from groups: we’re speaking about fiberglass as an alternative of polypropylene. As soon as a polymer is chosen, we instantly perform buyer testing with 20% ethanol gas. We do the identical with adhesives. Updates are practically day by day, making dimensional research extra agile. Air filters, for instance, are available in very completely different shapes due to every staff’s aerodynamic design. Each engine maker defines a selected house: filtration is likely to be related, however sizes are very completely different.”
What’s essentially the most important factor?
“The filter that protects the motive force. We are able to afford an engine subject that stops the automobile, however not a failure in driver security: the DRS and brake circuits should at all times be excellent. For the hydraulic circuits, we collaborate with Brembo: security is paramount, in order that a part of the circuits is certainly essentially the most difficult.”
Will there be adjustments on this space in 2026?
“The varied hydraulic manifolds have particular technical filtration necessities. In braking, there’s now a twin rear circuit—the place as soon as the pedal immediately managed the caliper, in the present day there’s brake-by-wire, which provides power restoration braking: two hydraulic circuits, yet one more conventional and a second multi-pass. The 2 programs require completely different filters. The primary lasts longer, whereas the second is rather more high-performance.”
The 2026 improvements gained’t cease on the energy items—there will even be lively aerodynamics on the entrance, along with the rear DRS flap. This gained’t essentially improve the variety of filters on the automobiles. It’ll rely upon the hydraulic circuit configuration developed by groups and the necessities of the hydraulic manifolds, the management items that regulate fluid move. To keep away from points with the valves that open and shut the circuits (and thus, the moveable wings), the oil inside have to be extraordinarily clear. For reference, the baseline filtration requirement is 3 microns—this is applicable to the braking system too.
The staff of technicians led by Davide Moletta and devoted to F1 consists of about fifteen specialists working from the Nogarole Rocca headquarters. However the Verona multinational additionally depends on three R&D facilities in Ala di Trento, Shanghai, and New Delhi…
“We contain engineers in India for fluid dynamics and mechanical analyses, boosting our work energy with 40–50 native technicians. In the case of designing with metallic or plastic filter supplies, the Nogarole Rocca employees collaborates with the Ala di Trento staff.”
UFI Filters believes within the two-way change of technical data between the automotive and motorsport worlds…
“We’re pushed by ardour and love tackling the hardest analysis,” says Girondi. “We’re learning filtration for hydrogen, which shall be essential for future e-fuels.”
Are you exploring new supplies?
“There are a lot of attention-grabbing options for filtering media,” concludes Moletta. “With 3D-printed supplies loaded with carbon and Kevlar, we’re years forward of present necessities. You should by no means cease. And F1 pushes us to at all times go additional.”
One instance is the try to cut back the load of 2026 automobiles by about thirty kilos: weight discount, past dimensional research, will contain refining each single element. Crew chief designers are evaluating shifting hydraulic circuits and filters to extra advantageous positions for automobile steadiness.
“Basically, the shopper drives the event of the hydraulic circuit to optimize the scale of the filter housings. As soon as the best spot is discovered to take advantage of out there house and optimize weight distribution,” concludes Davide Moletta, “UFI receives weight targets. To satisfy them, we work on filtering media and more and more thinner aluminum partitions.”
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