Breaking: FIA unveil new F1 regulations

The FIA has officially announced the long-awaited F1 regulations for 2026 onwards. All-new power unit and chassis rules have been designed to ensure a more competitive, safe and sustainable future for F1.

The technical and power unit regulation changes have been developed collaboratively between F1 and the FIA, and the existing 10 teams have had input on the decision-making process.

The rules must now be approved when the FIA World Motor Sport Council convenes on 28 June 2024.

With the announcement of the rules, the FIA also released the first images of the new car. What is particularly striking is the front wing, which looks a lot like front wings from previous eras, especially those from the early 2000s. 

Combined with the thicker nose, the head-on render gives the impression of a bulkier rear wing. However, it looks more similar to the current approach side-on.

The text continues after the pictures.

High-level view

Broadly speaking, the cars will be smaller and more flexible. As part of the cars being more "nimble", the weight of them has also been addressed. 

The weight of F1 cars has increased substantially in recent years, but the next generation will see that dropped by over thirty kilograms. 

The power units are also changing significantly. The power of the battery in the hybrid engine will increase by 300% and there will be a 50-50 split between the electrical and combustion parts of the power unit.

Further, F1 will start using active aerodynamics, and drivers will have access to Manual Override Mode, which should make overtaking easier. All in all, the regulations aim to improve raceability and promote closer racing.

Another important issue for the FIA is sustainability. Starting in 2026, the sport will only use 100% renewable fuel. 

The safety of the cars will also be addressed with stronger structures and the so-called "crash test" will be made tougher.

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