Lighter F1 cars for 2026 by 50 kg, faster in straight lines and slower in corners

In 2026, Formula 1 will have a completely new technical regulation. Although it is not yet 100% confirmed, a first version has been presented to the teams, notably regarding the concepts of the power units, which will be significantly simplified.

The goal of a technical regulation is to ensure that all teams will be able to develop in a similar way in order to provide spectacle and competition while aligning with economic and societal realities. Thus, the hybrid era arrived as more and more private cars were being sold as hybrids or electric. The current system used in Formula 1 is too complex and not representative of the solutions adopted by road car manufacturers. Therefore, in order to gain weight and efficiency, the thermally powered energy recovery system will be removed, keeping only the kinetic energy recovery system.

This change will notably allow to save some weight and space in order to optimize the regulations to achieve a lower minimum weight than currently.

Pilots complain about the size and weight

Weight has always been the number one enemy in Formula 1. It requires a more complex tire management and is associated with a size issue. In addition to being heavier, F1 cars are also becoming larger. The increased safety measures have played a significant role in the increase in weight and size, but the evolution of the engine has also contributed.

Thus, in 13 years, Formula 1 cars have gained 176 kgs of minimum weight with the addition of various technical elements and the need for safety features such as the halo. This brings the total minimum weight to 798 kgs, without including the fuel, which can amount to around 125 kgs of gasoline at the start of a Grand Prix.

This weight and size are criticized by the drivers who struggle to overtake and have a responsive behavior as they could have on smaller or lighter single-seater cars. For comparison, an F4 weighs less than 500 kg.

Verstappen, Russell, and Stroll have notably judged the F1 cars as being too heavy, but they are realistic: “I think the cars have become too heavy, and I would like to see things change in the future. There are many things that can be changed to make it better in Formula 1, but the first thing that comes to mind would be to make the cars more enjoyable to drive and more agile,” explained Russell.

« As Lance and Max explained, having lighter cars would be better, but you can’t have it all. The reason why cars are heavier is linked to safety. It’s difficult to choose between more comfort in driving or more safety, there are too many compromises. »

The FIA wants to lower the minimum weight by 50 kilograms.

Nicolas Tombazis, the current head of technical development for Formula 1 cars, explained that the goal is to reduce the weight by 50 kg for the 2026 regulations.

« With the smaller wheel dimensions, which will be narrower, as well as with the rear wing and the car in general, we aim to reduce the weight of the cars by around 50 kgs. Therefore, it will be possible to see smaller single-seaters: shorter and narrower. However, we are talking about solutions that still need to be discussed. »

« With this setup, the speeds in corners will be slightly reduced, but the cars will go faster in straight lines and generate less aerodynamic load. Therefore, it will be necessary to increase the proportion of energy recovery to ensure similar performance per lap. »

A controversial rule

The Red Bull team has called for a modification of the regulations in order to avoid having “Frankenstein” F1 cars in 2026, where, for example, decelerating in a straight line would be necessary to optimize lap times. Tombazis seeks to reassure on this point and believes that the data currently analyzed by the teams regarding these regulations concerns simulations in which the 2026 engine is installed on a 2023 car. However, the 2026 regulations will also modify the format of the F1 cars and their aerodynamics, and it is on this new format that the simulations will need to be conducted.

« If we were to take the powertrains from 2026 and install them on current cars, the result would probably be the scenario advanced by those who are concerned. But in recent months, we have made a series of very positive developments, so these comments are not valid. We must also take into account the fact that the engine and chassis will have to evolve together and that it will not be possible to think of one without the other. »