What are the main rule changes for F1 cars for 2026?
- Published
Formula 1 will see new regulations brought in from the 2026 season, which could lead to a major shake-up on the grid.
The last regulations, which came in for the 2022 season, saw the dawn of an era of Max Verstappen dominance.
Teams began work on their 2026 cars under the new set of rules that are designed to make the sport more "agile, competitive, safer and more sustainable," according to motorsport's governing body, the FIA.
Next season cars will be lighter, smaller, and therefore more agile. The weight of cars will be reduced by 30kg to 768kg. They will also be shorter and narrower, with the length reduced by 200mm and the width by 100mm.
Pirelli's 18-inch wheel size, introduced in 2022, will remain. But the width of the front tyres will be reduced by 25mm and the rears by 30mm.
The drag reduction system (DRS) will be removed from the 2026 season onwards and replaced with two separate power-boost modes.
'Z-mode' opens elements on the front and rear wings to increase downforce and speed through corners, and 'X-mode' reduces drag to maximise straight-line speed.
The power units are set to deliver an almost 300% increase in electric power. There will also be an even split between internal combustion engine and electric power, giving cars three times more electric braking power.
These changes were brought in by the FIA with the vision of enabling better racing between drivers and creating more opportunities for overtakes.
Fuel in every car will be 100% sustainable, meaning no new fossil carbon will be burned. Instead, fuel will be derived from carbon that came from non-food sources, general waste or from carbon captured from the atmosphere.
For the 2026 F1 season, there are five confirmed engine suppliers, with Ford teaming up with Red Bull, and Audi and Honda also joining Mercedes and Ferrari in the sport.
Thanks to Greg in Kent and Victor in Bolton for the questions.
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