System 1 is looking for its id: the brand new rules are nonetheless unclear, although engine producers have been engaged on the 2026 energy items for not less than 4 years, investing closely. Nevertheless 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 features.
Whereas discussions proceed over how energy ought to be divided (rumors recommend 50% electrical and 50% inner combustion in qualifying, however 150 kW could be faraway from the electrical aspect throughout races to keep away from charging points at circuits with decrease vitality restoration like Monza, Jeddah, Las Vegas, and Baku), some are already deeply concerned in defining options that might want to work whatever the last guidelines authorised…
Because of its experience, UFI Filters has earned the belief of all ten groups at present on the F1 grid: the Verona-based firm provides every crew with round a dozen filters (starting from 11 to 17), every of which is “tailor made” by means of co-design with the groups, making each factor distinctive.
The 2026 rules elevate the technological problem with more and more excessive fields of analysis. UFI Filters will intervene on a number of components of F1 vehicles: 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 may be very vast, and it’s fascinating to find what’s going to change for UFI Filters with the brand new energy items and the introduction of e-fuels…
“Within the inner combustion engine, we assist optimize efficiency,” explains Davide Moletta, Excessive Tech Division Supervisor at UFI Filters. “At this stage, speaking about 100% artificial gasoline 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 gasoline, however fairly a base chemical system launched by ARAMCO, the Saudi firm working with the FIA. Then, producers will be capable to customise their fuels in keeping with their wants: detonation, combustion kind, and timing.”
Are paddock rumors true that the very best gasoline might supply a 30-horsepower benefit?
“Within the high-pressure gasoline 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 varied chemical parts, you need to management the strain 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 effectively, others much less so. We use metal for the filtering half and titanium for the metallic elements. Their traits be sure that even with full filter blockage on the circuit’s most upstream pump strain, there isn’t any leakage. Our filter gained’t collapse or explode, so the automobile stops, however the engine isn’t compromised. You simply want to exchange 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 continually 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 gasoline. We do the identical with adhesives. Updates are practically every day, making dimensional research extra agile. Air filters, for instance, are available in very completely different shapes due to every crew’s aerodynamic design. Each engine maker defines a selected house: filtration is perhaps comparable, however sizes are very completely different.”
What’s probably the most important factor?
“The filter that protects the driving force. We are able to afford an engine difficulty that stops the automobile, however not a failure in driver security: the DRS and brake circuits should all the time be excellent. For the hydraulic circuits, we collaborate with Brembo: security is paramount, in order that a part of the circuits is certainly probably the most difficult.”
Will there be adjustments on this space in 2026?
“The assorted hydraulic manifolds have particular technical filtration necessities. In braking, there’s now a twin rear circuit—the place as soon as the pedal straight managed the caliper, right this moment there’s brake-by-wire, which provides vitality 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 far more high-performance.”
The 2026 improvements gained’t cease on the energy items—there can even be lively aerodynamics on the entrance, along with the rear DRS flap. This gained’t essentially enhance the variety of filters on the vehicles. It is going to rely upon the hydraulic circuit configuration developed by groups and the necessities of the hydraulic manifolds, the management items that regulate fluid stream. 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 crew 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. Relating to designing with metallic or plastic filter supplies, the Nogarole Rocca employees collaborates with the Ala di Trento crew.”
UFI Filters believes within the two-way trade 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 will likely be essential for future e-fuels.”
Are you exploring new supplies?
“There are numerous fascinating options for filtering media,” concludes Moletta. “With 3D-printed supplies loaded with carbon and Kevlar, we’re years forward of present necessities. You could by no means cease. And F1 pushes us to all the time go additional.”
One instance is the try to cut back the load of 2026 vehicles by about thirty kilos: weight discount, past dimensional research, will contain refining each single part. Crew chief designers are evaluating transferring hydraulic circuits and filters to extra advantageous positions for automobile steadiness.
“Normally, the client drives the event of the hydraulic circuit to optimize the dimensions of the filter housings. As soon as the perfect spot is discovered to benefit from accessible house and optimize weight distribution,” concludes Davide Moletta, “UFI receives weight targets. To fulfill them, we work on filtering media and more and more thinner aluminum partitions.”
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