The FIA has unveiled the regulations coming into force for F1 2026. They have been developed by the FIA’s technical groups and written in collaboration with Formula 1, the sport’s 10 teams, OEMs and power unit manufacturers. These regulations will be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council on June 28. They are designed to produce greater competition, safety and sustainability. Teams can work on the aerodynamics starting from 1 January 2025, while they can start developing the chassis and mechanical parts immediately.
“These regulations mark a significant moment in the future of our sport as we look forward to a new generation of cars and power units that aims to give our fans closer and more exciting racing,” said Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1.
F1 2026 cars: Smaller, lighter and less dependent on ground effect
At the core of the new regulations, the FIA has defined their vision for a “nimble car”. This concept will be pursued to improve the spectacle with even closer racing. FIA Single Seater Technical Director Nikolas Tombazis has spoken about the process behind the 2026 regulations:
“With this set of regulations, the FIA has sought to develop a new generation of cars that is fully in touch with the DNA of Formula 1. Lightweight cars, extremely fast and agile, but who also remain at the cutting edge of technology.”
F1’s next generation of machines will weigh 768 kg (722 kg of weight between car and driver + 46 kg as estimated tyre mass).
This will make the 2026 cars 30 kg lighter than the current generation of F1 cars, improving efficiency and manageability.
Weight reduction was not the only key objective. The new cars were also designed to be smaller. The wheelbase drops from a maximum of 360cm to 340cm, while the width has been reduced from 200cm to 190cm. Additionally, the maximum width of the floor has been reduced by 150cm.
The car concept has been designed to adapt to the new challenge undertaken by the Federation in terms of engines. F1’s new engines will see a reduction in endothermic power from 550-560 kW to 400 kW. Meanwhile, the battery element increases enormously – going from 120 kW to 350 kW. There will be an increase of almost 300% in electrical power.
Furthermore, the amount of energy that can be recovered during braking is doubled, with a total recoverable energy of 8.5 MJ per revolution.
“Following the publication of the 2026 power unit regulations two years ago now, we took the opportunity to redefine the chassis regulations to adapt them to the energy needs of the new engines,” FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulayem said.
The resulting car came out with a 30% reduction in aerodynamic load and, above all, with 55% less aerodynamic resistance. As for the size of the rims, the 18 inches will be maintained. However, the width of the front tyres will be reduced by 25 mm and the rear by 30 mm, with a minimal loss of grip.
Two important new features: Active aerodynamics, while the Override mode will be the new DRS
“With these regulations, we are introducing two exciting new features to improve racing. Active Aerodynamics, to reduce drag on straights, and Manual Override, which will provide drivers with more energy from the battery when they are close enough to the car that precedes them,” announced Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA Single Seater Director.
The 2026 cars will benefit from brand-new active aerodynamic systems. The front and rear wings will become mobile thanks to two modes, the Z-Mode and the X-Mode. This X-Mode is a low aerodynamic drag configuration designed to maximise speed in straights.
As for the Push To Pass-like mode, cars will benefit from the MGUK Override. This will provide 350 kW up to 337 km/h + 0.5 MJ of extra energy, while the normal energy deployment is reduced after 290 km/h, reaching zero at 355 km/h.
The rear wing will become three movable elements. The beam wing will be removed, and the end plates will be simplified. In addition, the front wing will be 100 mm narrower and will be equipped with a two-element movable flap.
Unlike current cars, the front wheel arches will be removed. However, the devices under the front brake vents, which are useful for controlling the trail of the front tyres, will remain. One of the most important innovations compared to the initial idea of these 2026 cars is the partial step backwards regarding the bottom, which will still be able to rely on the ground effect but to a much lesser extent, as it will be partially flat, just as the diffuser will have a power inferior. This should reduce the cars’ dependence on ultra-stiff and low suspensions.
F1 2026: more safety and greater sustainability thanks to new “drop-in” fuels
The current F1 cars are the safest in the series’ history. However, with the new generation, the FIA wanted to take further steps forward. Previously, there have been revisions to make the front impact structure two-stage. This avoids accidents where the impact structure (FIS) detaches after an initial impact and leaves the car unprotected from a subsequent impact. On 2026 cars, this side protection has been increased.
The new specification doubles battery protection and has been achieved without adding weight. Roll hoop loads have been increased from 16G to 20G. Test loads have increased from 141 kN to 167 kN.
From 2026, the lights positioned at the rear of the bulkheads will be significantly more visible and brighter. Side safety lights will be introduced to identify the ERS status of a car stopped on the track. Just as the GPS antenna will be repositioned to improve sensitivity and allow future developments in active safety.
Then there is the issue of sustainability. Starting in 2026, Formula 1 power units will run on completely sustainable fuel. This underlines a strong environmental commitment and establishes a new standard for motorsport.
“The new sustainably powered hybrid powertrain represents a huge opportunity for the global automotive industry. The fuel drop has the potential to be used by cars around the world and drastically reduce emissions.
“Its potential is one of the reasons main reasons why in 2026 we will have a record number of engine suppliers in Formula 1,” Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali announced.
The new fuel will indeed be “drop-in”, meaning it can be used in almost all vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. This offers a potentially revolutionary solution to greenhouse gases in the transport sector. By 2030, there will be 1.2 billion ICE cars on the world’s roads. Fuel developed for Formula 1 could be used to reduce emissions on an industrial scale.
Sustainability will then be strengthened through the greater use of electricity, with a 50/50 ratio between electric and thermal. This will also make it possible to reach the self-imposed Net Zero carbon objective for 2030.
