At the premiere of the motorsport event in the summer of 2025, the focus was not only on electric drives, but also on further developments in combustion engines and the use of synthetic fuels. The second edition will follow in July 2026 at the Circuit Meppen – with an identical concept and a significantly expanded international field of participants. Prior to this, Malki Maliha, one of the volunteer event managers, will provide insights into the concept at the 13th International Engine Congress on February 24 and 25, 2026, in Baden-Baden.
Promoting Young Talent with Hydrogen and E-fuels
Openness to Technology on the Race Track: Formula Future Takes Off
The assumption that young academics at technical universities are now only concerned with battery-electric drives is misleading. A look at the field of participants in the student “Formula Future” series, for example, puts this picture into perspective. This young racing series brings genuine technological openness to the asphalt.
Formula with Four Drive Concepts
Formula Future in a nutshell: Students take to the track in racing cars they have developed themselves, compare concepts under identical conditions, and learn directly from practical experience. The Formula Future regulations are designed to be as open as possible. Fuel cells, hydrogen engines, classic combustion engines, and hybrid concepts are all permitted.
Malki Maliha, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Piston Machines at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), is not only a scientist but also one of the driving forces behind the new racing series. His message: “The combustion engine is far from obsolete for young engineers.” While the established Formula Student Germany, for example, relies purely on electric drives, Formula Future aims to fill a gap for all those who see technological openness as a guiding principle.
Up to 15 Teams Will Compete
The first edition of the event in the summer of 2025 was a resounding success: “The racetrack and the entire location in Meppen were very well received by both the teams and the sponsors.” The organizers are therefore expecting a significant increase in 2026: after five teams last year, up to 15 teams are now expected to compete. The field is also becoming more international. Malki Maliha: “We have received initial inquiries from Benelux, Spain, Austria, and even China.” This internationalization shows that interest in complex drive solutions is a global issue.
The organizers are not arguing against electric mobility, but rather in favor of competition in the true sense of the word. “At the end of the day, the better product must prevail, both on the racetrack and in everyday use on the road,” the postdoc continues. “It is to be expected that battery-electric drives will take the leading role under market conditions, but not as quickly and not as universally as was thought a few years ago.” Because different applications have completely different requirements, he believes that a blanket commitment to one technology is not the right approach.
Better Prospects for Graduates Desired
Anyone who dismisses Formula Future as merely a student “track day” overlooks its second focus: the interface and networking with industry. “Networking is a key issue for us. However, students want more than just support for their racing projects; they want clear career prospects. In this respect, a clearer commitment to young engineering talent in Europe would be desirable – especially in today's challenging economic times,” Malki Maliha emphasizes.
The insights into Formula Future at the Engine Congress will not be limited to pictures alone. “We definitely plan to bring one or two vehicles from participating teams and exhibit them in Baden-Baden. This will bring racing and the students' projects to life right there on site.”
Further information: https://www.formula-future.eu
