FORMULA ONE 2026 IS SET FOR A MASSIVE CHANGE TO THE CARS AND RACE DYNAMICS - HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Formula 1 is preparing for its biggest technical reset in more than a decade, and the 2026 ruleset promises cars that look different, behave differently, and demand more from the drivers. The new regulations usher in smaller, lighter, and more agile machines, with shorter wheelbases, narrower bodies, and slimmer 18-inch tyres to cut drag and mass. Aerodynamically, the ground-effect era takes a sharp turn: long tunnels make way for flatter floors and extended diffusers with larger openings, reducing downforce and increasing ride heights. Simpler front and rear wings follow, but the real headline is Active Aero. Both wings can now adjust on the fly, switching to a low-drag mode on designated straights to boost top speed, effectively replacing traditional DRS. Add to that new driver tools like Overtake Mode, which deploys extra electrical energy when within one second of a rival, plus a renamed Boost button usable anywhere on the lap, and drivers suddenly have a far more tactical cockpit than ever before.
Under the bodywork, the 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid remains, but the balance of power is dramatically reshaped. From 2026, electric output triples while combustion power is reduced, creating an almost 50:50 split between petrol and electric energy. The ERS can now recover twice as much energy per lap, the complex MGU-H is gone, and battery management becomes a strategic weapon in the hands of drivers and engineers alike. Crucially, all cars will run on Advanced Sustainable Fuels, derived from sources such as carbon capture, municipal waste, and non-food biomass, marking a major step in F1’s sustainability push. Safety also steps up, with a stronger survival cell, a reinforced roll hoop, and revised front impact structures. Shaped by the FIA in collaboration with teams and Formula 1 itself, the 2026 rules have already attracted Ferrari, Mercedes, Audi, Red Bull Powertrains with Ford, Honda’s return, and General Motors from 2029. Less downforce, smarter energy use, closer racing, and more driver input. Formula 1 isn’t slowing down. It’s evolving. These images of the 2026 car from F1/Liberty Media show off an amazing-looking car, and we can’t wait to see how the different teams interpret the rules and what they’ll look like in full race livery. Can. Not. Wait.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the chaps at The Race, which gives more info on the changes for the cars and the running of the 2026 Grand Prix races - this is a massive update, the biggest in many years: What's behind late changes to F1's 2026 rules | The Race
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