F1 2026: Everything you need to know about the new rules

There’ll be changes across the board, from the chassis to the power unit and the aerodynamics. The 11 teams, yes, next season will see Cadillac join the sport and will follow these regulations for the next five seasons.

The new cars have a target weight of 724kg plus the mass of the tyres. The 2026 machinery will look smaller to the eye, thanks to a shorter wheelbase, down by 200mm to 3400mm.

The width of the car has been reduced by 100mm, and the floor width has been reduced by 150mm according to the FIA.

No more DRS

The outgoing regulations placed an emphasis on ground-effect tunnels, which focused on channeling air beneath the car. For 2026,the sport’s governing body, the FIA, is focused on a ‘nimble car’ that hopes to bring improved and closer racing.

We’ll also see the back of DRS, or the drag reduction system. DRS assisted drivers by increasing the car’s speed by around 15km/h by using a driver-activated flap on the rear wing. The reduced drag helped with overtaking.

In its place will be a new Manual Override Mode, or MOM. The new Active Aero mode will give drivers an extra 0.5MJ of energy. Speaking of energy, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the new power unit.

Thankfully, drivers can still activate maximum power from the engine and battery by pressing the boost button. This is dependent on whether they have enough battery power, and it may be used in one fell swoop or spread across the lap.

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50-50 power split between ICE and electric

Next year’s cars will run on 100% sustainable fuel for the first time in the sport’s history. We’ll also see a record half a dozen power unit manufacturers, including the usual suspects: Ferrari, Mercedes, Alpine, and Honda. The newcomers will be Audi and Red Bull Ford Powertrains.

The familiar 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine remains, and instead, the focus is on harnessing more electric energy – three times as much. For 2026, the split between petrol and electric is roughly 50-50.

According to F1.com, “To power the new hybrid unit, the car’s Energy Recovery System (ERS) can now recharge the battery with twice as much energy per lap, through things like recovery under braking or lifting off the throttle at the end of straights.”

The revamp of the power unit does mean it’s the end of the expensive and complex MGU-H (a heat recovery system).

Safer F1 cars in 2026

F1 is known for introducing stringent safety protocols, and 2026 is no different. The FIA says ‘the driver’s survival cell will be subjected to more rigorous tests, while the roll hoop will be strengthened to take 23% more load.’

The teams kick off pre-season testing on the 11th of February at the Sakhir circuit in Qatar. There’s another two-day session from the 18th to the 20th before the first race weekend of the season in Australia on the sixth of March.