Christian Horner predicts 'colossal' problem caused by F1 rule change

Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes F1 teams will have to spend a "colossal" sum of money to meet F1's new weight limit for the 2026 season. 

From next season, grand prix cars must weigh 724kg, plus the tyre mass, a reduction from the 800kg of the 2025-spec machines - a total loss of 76kg. 

One reason for this, and for which the all-new chassis regulations has been designed to try and achieve is to make the cars lighter and thus nimbler as opposed to the heavy, bulky machines of today. 

The weights have ballooned over recent years, mainly due to safety innovations such as the halo, and the complex turbo hybrid power units as opposed to the relatively simple V8 units phased out in 2013.

All cars must be at or over the weight limit, meaning a car could theoretically weigh 734kg and still be legal, although such a team would carry a weight penalty of 10kg. 

Reflecting on the slashing of the weight, Red Bull chief Horner sounded the alarm. 

"A number was plucked out of the air for car weight," Horner told media including RacingNews365. 

"We've got engines that are significantly heavier and a car weight which has become lower, so it will be an enormous challenge for every team to achieve it. 

"Saving weight costs a colossal amount of money. There was a discussion about introducing steel skid blocks, but maybe that would warrant adding 5 kilos to the minimum weight. 

"But it is what it is, and it is the same for everybody. There will be choices teams make to hit the weight, because weight is free lap-time. 

"Every 10 kilos is about 0.35s seconds, but it will be very challenging for all teams to get down to the minimum weight."

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Toto Wolff's thoughts

Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff was then asked for his thoughts, and agreed with Horner's sentiments. 

"Like Christian said, you make choices as a team. How much lap time do you attribute to weight and ballast? Where do you want to save?," Wolff explained.

"You may compromise other performance parts if you want to reduce your weight, or the opposite. It is challenging. 

"The reason we’re doing it is to make the cars more nimble. Is that something that was important? I think it was. We’ve got to start somewhere.

"That initial step is difficult, but it’s the same for everyone."