After the comments of figures from the Formula 1 environment after the race in Monaco After the first 10 positions on the grid remained unchanged, an announcement was made that will change the way we see the highest category of world motorsports: FIA confirmed the changes that cars will undergo in 2026 through the “agile car” concept.
With the aim of improving competitiveness on the track, the International Automobile Federation showed that cars They will be 30 kilos lighter than current generation F1 cars, improving efficiency and handling. The power units will be redesigned with almost 300% more battery power, which will be divided into what will be internal combustion and electric power.
Another concept that will be updated will be in order to create more overtaking opportunities through the new manual override mode that guarantees greater deployment of electrical energy for the pursuing car (DRS). In that sense, it must be noted that from 2026, The cars will run on 100 percent sustainable fuel, and the downforce (30%) and vehicle drag (55%) will be reduced..
Something to mention is that cars They will be 20 centimeters shorter and about 10 centimeters narrower: The wheelbase will be reduced from 3,600mm to 3,400mm, and the width will go from 2,000mm to 1,900mm. In this sense, the maximum width of the floor will be reduced by 150mm.
There will be more changes in measurements, this time in the tires. Formula 1 announced that the wheels will continue to be 18 inches – they have been there since 2022 – but they will be reduced a little (25 mm in the front and 30 mm in the rear) in the hope that the cars do not lose grip on the tracks.
“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 offer our fans closer and more exciting racing. The new sustainably powered hybrid power unit presents a huge opportunity for the global automotive industry; The fuel drop has the potential to be used by cars around the world and dramatically reduce emissions. “Its potential is one of the key reasons why we will have a record number of engine suppliers in Formula 1 in 2026,” explained the F1 CEO. Stefano Domenicali.
Starting in 2026, the category will have a record number of impeller manufacturers. There will be six with the landing of two new highly recognized structures within the automotive industry: Ferrari, Mercedes, Alpine, Honda, Audi and Red Bull Ford.
“The key features of the 2026 F1 Regulations are advanced technology, sustainability and safety. Our goal, together with Formula 1, was to produce a car suitable for the future of the sport’s elite category. We believe that we have achieved that objective,” analyzed the president of the FIA, Mohamed Ben Sulayem.
Beyond the improvements in power and aerodynamics aspects, the new F1 cars will have improved safety features for front and side impacts or another option is that the rear spoiler lights will be brighter.
“Cars that are light, supremely fast and agile, but that also remain at the forefront of technology, and to achieve this we have worked towards a concept called ‘agile car’,” explained FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis.
“Lighter, more powerful and more focused on driver skill, the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations for 2026 have been designed to deliver closer racing between drivers, increase competition between teams and enhance the spectacle” concluded one of the main actors in the development of the new cars that will come to Formula 1 with the aim of ending the great dominance of recent times achieved by drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes or the titles and the present of Red Bull from the hand of Max Verstappen.
