---
description: "MGU-K in F1 explained: the 120 kW crankshaft-mounted motor-generator, per-lap energy caps, and how 2026 triples its role after the MGU-H is removed."
title: "MGU-K in F1: how the hybrid harvest unit works and 2026 changes"
image: https://www.f1-fansite.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/eclate_moteur_gb-Large1.jpg
---

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# MGU-K

![Power Unit in F1? Formula 1 Hybrid System Explained](https://www.f1-fansite.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/eclate_moteur_gb-Large1-311x220.jpg)

Renault 2014 Power Unit (engine)

**The MGU-K, Motor Generator Unit Kinetic, is the electrical unit on a Formula 1 power unit that harvests braking energy and returns it to the wheels as extra power.** It sits on the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, and its 120 kW deployment (roughly 160 hp) has been part of every hybrid F1 lap since the current rules era began in 2014. For 2026, its role grows dramatically.

## What is the MGU-K in Formula 1?

The MGU-K is an electric motor and generator that shares a shaft with the ICE crankshaft. Under braking, it works as a generator, harvesting kinetic energy from the rotating driveline and sending it as electrical power to the Energy Store or directly to the MGU-H. Under acceleration, it flips to motor mode, drawing power from the Energy Store and adding torque to the crankshaft, giving the driver extra power up to the regulated limit.

## Energy flow and limits

- MGU-K deployment (motor mode): capped at **120 kW** (about 160 hp);
- MGU-K harvesting (generator mode): capped at 2 MJ per lap;
- MGU-K deployment from Energy Store: capped at 4 MJ per lap;
- MGU-H flow to and from the Energy Store: unlimited (until 2025);
- MGU-K can be fed directly by the MGU-H, bypassing the Energy Store.

## How drivers use the MGU-K

Drivers control MGU-K deployment through overtake buttons and the strategy maps programmed into the steering wheel. A well-managed lap deploys the 120 kW where it does the most good: onto the throttle out of slow corners and along the longest straights. A poorly managed lap runs the battery flat halfway through and leaves the driver defenceless on the last straight of the lap.

## The 2026 rewrite

The 2026 regulations dramatically expand the MGU-K's role. Peak power roughly triples to around 350 kW, and the Energy Store's per-lap deployment grows to reflect the new architecture. With the MGU-H removed, the MGU-K becomes the sole electrical harvest device, and its ability to charge and discharge fast enough for racing use becomes one of the defining engineering challenges of the new formula.

## Latest MGU-K news

- [![No penalty for Ricciardo in Canada](https://www.f1-fansite.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/AP-1VSUQRVX52111_hires_jpeg_24bit_rgb-190x308.jpg)31 May 2018<h3>No penalty for Ricciardo in Canada</h3>](https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-news/no-penalty-for-ricciardo-in-canada/)

## Frequently asked questions about the MGU-K

### What does MGU-K stand for?

MGU-K stands for Motor Generator Unit Kinetic. It is the crankshaft-mounted electric unit that harvests braking energy and returns it as extra power.

### How much power does the MGU-K deliver?

The current MGU-K is capped at 120 kW of deployment power, roughly 160 horsepower. Under the 2026 rules the peak rises to around 350 kW.

### How is the MGU-K different from the MGU-H?

The MGU-K harvests and deploys mechanical, wheel-related energy from the crankshaft. The MGU-H harvests exhaust energy at the turbocharger shaft. The MGU-H is being removed for 2026.

### Is the MGU-K a power-unit element?

Yes. The MGU-K is one of the six numbered power-unit elements each driver is allocated per season.

### What changes for the MGU-K in 2026?

Peak power roughly triples, per-lap energy deployment rises with a larger Energy Store, and the MGU-K becomes the only harvest device on the power unit after the MGU-H is removed.

Last updated: 13 Jul 2026, 15:01

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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What does MGU-K stand for?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"MGU-K stands for Motor Generator Unit Kinetic, the crankshaft-mounted electric unit that harvests braking energy and returns it as extra power."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much power does the MGU-K deliver?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The current MGU-K is capped at 120 kW of deployment power, roughly 160 horsepower. Under the 2026 rules the peak rises to around 350 kW."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How is the MGU-K different from the MGU-H?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The MGU-K harvests and deploys mechanical, wheel-related energy from the crankshaft. The MGU-H harvests exhaust energy at the turbo shaft."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is the MGU-K a power-unit element?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. The MGU-K is one of the six numbered power-unit elements each driver is allocated per season."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What changes for the MGU-K in 2026?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Peak power roughly triples, per-lap energy deployment rises, and the MGU-K becomes the only harvest device on the power unit."}}]}
```
