Mony Aramalla outlines the main changes proposed by the FIA for the Formula One 2026 season, exploring how these updates aim to make the sport better.
With the start of every new Formula 1 season, predictions and bets placed on the Constructor's Championships and the World Driver’s Champion are almost always predictable. Between them, Mercedes and Redbull have claimed all 10 Constructors’ trophies in the last decade. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have together won nine Drivers’ titles since 2014.
Needless to say, the formula that defines Formula 1, and brings forth a sense of anticipation and excitement has withered slightly in recent years. In June 2024, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), who run Formula 1 and its feeder events, announced major changes to the cars entering the competition in 2026.
The previous MGU-H system, which recovered energy from turbo heat, is being scrapped for the new season to make engines simpler and cheaper. The new electric motor (MGU-K) is more powerful, allowing big bursts of electric power to provide additional speed on straights. The cars have been using hybrid systems since 2014, but from 2026, they will rely on almost 50% electrical power, making them the most electrified F1 cars ever. This means that more push-to-pass style moments are to be expected next year during races.
In 2017, car sizes increased significantly for safety and stability reasons, but with the new regulations, 2026 will see cars return to a 1900 mm width and a 3400 mm wheelbase, reverting to dimensions closer to those of the early 2010s. Subsequently, the weight is also decreasing by around 30 kg, from a minimum of 798 kg to 768 kg. The larger, heavier cars had become less nimble on tight circuits like Monaco or Singapore and harder to follow through corners. A major change being made is to the downforce and drag characteristics of the cars. When one car follows another closely, the airflow becomes turbulent (“dirty air”), reducing downforce and grip. Currently, the massive ground effect and DRS systems are being reduced by 30% and 55% respectively to promote closer racing.
The change to the DRS system will also impact the overall racing structure. Currently, cars are manufactured with a rear wing flap that is opened by drivers for a top speed increase in designated DRS zones. The new change creates two modes for the new cars - Z-mode with high downforce for corners, and X-mode with low drag for straights. This also impacts the advantage gained by some drivers when activating DRS for overtaking. Drivers switching between the two aero modes, along with electric boost, will create a more skill-based overtaking mechanism. This comes under the hope of creating racing that rewards timing and driver control rather than button-press advantages.
With Formula 1 being a dangerous sport, safety aspects are constantly evolving under FIA guidelines. The most recent changes include revised front and side impact zones to allow cars to absorb crashes better, especially with side impacts. The load capacity is increasing by 25% for the roll hoop strength, which is the extremely high load bearing capacity of the protective structure located behind the driver’s head, following Zhou Guanyu’s 2022 crash at Silverstone when his roll hoop was destroyed. The side intrusion panels are also being reinforced, providing better protection from debris and T-bone collisions.
Perhaps, one of the most important improvements FIA has made to F1 car future is making the fuel 100% sustainable and carbon-neutral. The FIA has faced criticism over the past decade for the sport’s environmental footprint, with each car consuming around 110 litres of fuel per race. But now, engines will burn synthetic or bio-based fuel with no fossil inputs. Cars can also recover twice as much electrical energy from braking (increasing from 4 MJ per lap to 8.5 MJ per lap). The engine’s efficiency keeps increasing, with the new target achieving greater than 55% thermal efficiency, creating a new record for internal combustion engines.
The 2026 season won’t just bring new cars, it brings new manufacturers and competitors to Formula 1. Audi joins the grid with its own factory team and power unit, while Ford partners with Red Bull Powertrains. Alongside Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda, 2026 will feature five engine manufacturers in total. This expansion, and the inclusion of an eleventh team in the season marks the most diverse field of engine suppliers in a decade, setting the stage for a far more unpredictable championship that will keep everyone on their toes.