The FIA has revealed several details of the 2026 Formula 1 technical regulations that will focus on a ‘nimble car’ concept with less downforce, drag and weight than current machinery.
After announcing the 2026 power unit regulations two years ago, the global motorsport federation has worked on the rest of Formula 1’s technical roadmap. The vision for 2026 is to improve ‘raceability and close racing’ according to an FIA statement. Downforce will be reduced by 30 per cent and drag by 55 per cent, as the rule makers seek to make it easier for cars to follow each other while minimising the impact of ‘dirty air’.
The chassis will be smaller and lighter than the current 2022 generation of Formula 1 cars. The maximum wheelbase has been shortened from 3600mm to 3400mm and width has slimmed from 2000mm to 1900mm. The maximum floor width will be reduced by 150mm. The FIA has confirmed a minimum weight of 768kg, down 30kg from today’s machinery. Tyre mass is set to be around 46kg, putting the car and driver weight at 722kg.
The 18-inch wheel size will remain unchanged, however tyre width will be reduced by 25mm on the front and 30mm on the rear. The goal is for grip loss to minimised.
On the aerodynamics side, there will be less reliance on generating downforce through ground effect, which was one of the pillars of the 2022 rules. From 2026, Formula 1 cars will have partially flat floors and a less effective diffuser, reducing teams’ reliance on stiff and low set-ups.
Formula 1 is also making big changes to its active aerodynamics. Cars have used a drag reduction system (DRS) as an overtaking aid since 2011, but from 2026 it will be used by all cars at all times. The revised active aero system will involve movable front and rear wings. It is designed to increase cornering speeds with the standard ‘Z-Mode’ deployed, while on the straights drivers will switch to an ‘X-Mode’ low-drag setting for optimised straight-line speed. The lower beam wing has been axed, while the rear wing is set to feature three elements. A two-element flap for the front wing’s active aero system will be fitted, while the front wing will be 100mm narrower than today.
The role of DRS as an overtaking tool will be assumed by the Manual Override system, which boosts the amount of electrical power for a chasing car. Electric power deployment of a leading car will taper off at 290km/h, reaching zero at 355km/h, whereas the chasing car will use the MOS to get 350kW of electric power up to 337km/h, plus 0.5MJ of extra energy.
‘If you are within a given distance, before the end of a lap to the car in front of you, then for the following lap, you will be given the possibility to use more electrical energy than your opponent,’ adds FIA single seater technical director, Jan Monchaux. ‘And that boost of electrical energy is there to replace what used to be the rear wing opening, to give a car that extra push to potentially go and try to overtake.’
Elsewhere in aerodynamics, front wheel arches will be removed as part of efforts to improve wake performance. Wake control boards that use in-wash will be positioned on the front of the sidepods to help control the wheel wake. Teams will be allowed to start aero testing in January.
On the safety front, a two-stage front impact structure will be mandated. This is to prevent incidents where the structure detaches close to the survival cell after an impact, leaving it exposed in case of a second hit.
The 2026 concept also offers improved side impact protection around the cockpit and fuel cell without adding weight. Roll hoop loads will increase from 16G to 20G and test loads will go up from 141kN to 167kN. Homologated rear endplate lights will be made brighter than today, while lateral safety lights will display a stationary car’s energy recovery status.
The full 2026 Formula 1 technical regulations will be published once they have been ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council at its next meeting on 28 June.
‘With this set of regulations the FIA has sought to develop a new generation of cars that are fully in touch with the DNA of Formula 1 – cars that are light, supremely fast and agile but which also remains at the cutting edge of technology, and to achieve this we worked towards what we called a ‘nimble car’ concept,’ said FIA single seater director, Nikolas Tombazis. ‘At the centre of that vision is a redesigned power unit that features a more even split between the power derived from the internal combustion element and electrical power.’
‘On the chassis side we have managed to reduce the size and weight of the car by 30kg resulting in a much more dynamic car. In addition we are introducing two exciting new features to enhance racing – active aerodynamics to achieve very low drag on the straights and the Manual Override system that will provide drivers with an on-demand burst of battery power when close enough to the car ahead of them.
‘Lighter, more powerful and more focused on driver skill, the 2026 FIA Formula 1 technical regulations have been designed to provide closer racing among drivers, increase the competition between teams and improve the spectacle. In addition, we have opted for a higher electrical component of the power unit, a more efficient car overall, and fully sustainable fuels, as part of our drive towards a more sustainable future for our sport.’
