Is F1 going to save the combustion engine from oblivion?

With Audi and Honda swelling F1’s ranks by committing to the sustainably fuelled turbo hybrid regulations from 2026, the significance of what is happening goes well beyond the spectacle of having six car makers going up against each other on track.

In fact, there is a bigger global picture at play here and one that could well dictate the future of road car engines.

It did not take long after Honda’s recent U-turn decision for some key messages to emerge about where…