F1 News: 2026 Regulations Will Bring Lighter Cars

The FIA plans to shed 50 kgs from Formula 1 cars in 2026 to make them lighter, shorter and narrower.

The FIA aims to make the F1 cars a lot smaller and lighter in 2026 when the new rules come into force. Currently, the governing body is busy putting together the outline of chassis regulations. 

In addition, it was also planned to have active aero to help deal with drag on the straights. Giving out details of what could be expected in the future, single seater director Nicholas Tombazis spoke to It.Motorsport, hinting that the priority change will be the size and weight of the car. He said:

"With the dimensions of the wheels, which will be narrower, plus with the rear wing and the car in general, we aim to reduce the weight of the cars by around 50kg.

"So, it will be possible to see smaller single-seater cars: shorter and narrower. But we are talking about solutions that still need to be discussed.

"With the car on a diet, we will be able to reduce the cornering speeds a bit. Being lighter, they will go faster in a straight line, but will generate less aerodynamic load. So, we will need to increase the hybrid's energy recovery to ensure adequate lap performance."

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Keeping aside the weight reduction point, the 2026 regulations haven't been controversy-free, with drivers and team principals fearful of the power unit rules compromising the wheel-to-wheel racing essence of Formula 1. 

Not only that, the requirement of a 50-50 power distribution between electric and internal combustion output also gave rise to concerns about drivers having to shift down on straights to boost their hybrid systems.

While the rules seem like they're going to spoil the fun, Tombazis ensures that the governing body is working hard on making things work from a racing perspective for 2026. He added:

"A lot of work has been done to understand how energy recovery and management will have to be done, and how overtaking can be done based on the aerodynamic configuration.

"We have carried out many simulations by changing these parameters and we have found solutions that seem to work adequately."

The director also adds that the concerns regarding the power output of the 2026 car cannot be applicable to the new chassis as the engine and the chassis evolve together. He said:

"If one took the 2026 power units and mounted them on the current cars, probably the result would be the scenario put forward by those who were worried.

"But in recent months, we have collected a series of very positive developments, so the comments express old positions.

"We also need to take into account that the engine and chassis will have to evolve together, and it will not be possible to think of one without the other."