F1 News: FIA President Pushes For Big Change In Upcoming 2026 Rule Revolution

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem urges Formula 1 to prioritise lighter cars in the forthcoming 2026 ruleset.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is making a strong case for lighter Formula 1 cars when the new ruleset comes into play in 2026. As the sport gears up for its next major revolution, which includes new engine regulations, discussions are ongoing regarding the accompanying chassis regulations. There is a consensus among stakeholders that the cars need to shed weight rather than continue to grow heavier, as has been the trend in recent years.

Currently, the minimum weight for a 2023 F1 car stands at 798kg. This increase can be attributed to the incorporation of hybrid systems like energy stores and recovery systems, as well as the inclusion of safety features like the Halo. To put this into perspective, the last year before the introduction of hybrid systems saw F1 cars weigh a minimum of 585kg in 2008. With the introduction of KERS in 2009, the weight climbed to 605kg, steadily rising ever since.

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed his firm support for reducing the weight of F1 cars in the upcoming ruleset. He emphasised the benefits of lighter cars in terms of safety and fuel consumption, drawing from his experience in rallying. 

“One thing I would like to see is very clear: we need a lighter car.

“I believe this is better. I come from motorsport, where lighter cars are safer and they won’t use the same amount of fuel.

“It will be hard to achieve, but everybody wants it. So I am pushing because I come from rallying, where nothing is worse than having a heavy car.”

Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 CEO, echoed the sentiments of the FIA President, recognising the weight issue as a topic for discussion. He highlighted that the increasing weight due to hybrid engines and batteries goes against the essence of F1, emphasising the need for deliberation on this matter in the future.

“One of the points that has always been a debate has been the weight,” he said.

“As you know, with the hybrid engines, with the batteries, the weight is getting higher and that is something that is not really in the nature of F1. So, it’s a topic for discussion for the future.”