Our Reaction to the NEW 2026 F1 Regulations

Matt and Tommy discuss the 2026 F1 regulations which have been fully released today and talk about just how exciting this is for the sport.
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[@thebateman761]

"2026" still feels like it's 6 years away, not less than two

[@pisderata]

fr 22 regulations are ending too soon (good)

[@John-ok8ts]

Ever since we went into lockdown time just seems to go so fast even though we are out and have been out for ages.

[@Henriette187]

COVID changed everything. I was 23 years old, and in these years, nothing happened, yet I aged three years… It’s stolen time.

[@nathangeco]

we are closer to 2026 than to 2022.

[@BwInNewJersey]

Time is relentless jeez

[@ArifAlAmin0714]

If 2000 and 2022 cars had a baby

[@SF1_AEP]

FR, was what i was thinkin too.

[@RadityaPramanaPutra2001]

*2009-2016 cars left this chat*

[@cmpmendes]

2004 vibes on that front wing.

[@toolegittoquit_001]

With all the bad traits

[@AlexaMG35]

Was my first thought as well - With the front-facing shot, I immediately thought it was 2005 again, but thats in a good way

[@ben_1]

I never understood why for some people "new regs = more equal field" For me it's pretty obvious that at the beginning of new regulations it's way easier for one team to dominate because they found something the others didn't. Only after a few years does the field get closer together, like we're seeing now.

[@metro3313]

Not always tho. The 2017 regs brought Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull a lot closer together.

[@emmata98]

​@@metro3313 that wasn't that big of a change. Same engines, just a bit wider and wider wings (and lower rear wing)

[@metro3313]

@@emmata98 How was it not a big change? The cars were around 2s faster per lap.

[@stigvanbrabant2325]

I think you are absolutely right, but what makes it exciting it in my opinion is it can cause a big shift in teams performance. And then it is all about the development race, which can then all cause a lot off teams to be closer together. With the latest ones it hasn't really worked out like that, but my god i hope it works this time.

[@nateflores8160]

Only reason why 2022 had a big winner with Red Bull was cuz it was ground effect which many teams have never done before and they had Newey. The cost cap and restrictions didn’t help teams catch up either

[@scottmeredith3359]

It might not be a huge change, but I’m not going to criticize the FIA for at least turning the trend around and making the car somewhat smaller and lighter

[@gvdc]

I think getting rid of the MGU-H may also help improve the sound, am quietly optimistic on that front despite the new 50/50 fuel/electric split

[@matthewisles3560]

😮t

[@BlissifiedHH]

@@gvdc Also the new 6 speed gearbox will force the teams to extend the gears so the engines will also rev higher and make full use of the 15k rpm they have

[@gefaehrlich]

Oh yeah that's obviously the most important part hahaha I also still use an analog landline instead of a smartphone just because the sound of those bells ringing just slaps haha who cares about technological advancements ;-D ​@@gvdc

[@sdfopsdmsdofjmp7863]

The 2022 cars were already smaller than the 2021 cars. They are just heavier.

[@raulfelix3398]

hey guys 10 cm is A LOT.

[@mikehipperson]

I bet your gf didn't say that?

[@kart3347]

Lol

[@ginnungagap69]

I always give size in mm, because a little looks like a lot. It’s not the size of your F1 car, it’s how you race it.

[@joshsmith7521]

That's 5 cm more than I have

[@KraftyLive]

yea its almost 4"

[@supaG-1.0]

I bet 2025 will be a really close season only to then be wiped away for 2026.

[@podjun80]

Yep.

[@Connor19527]

That’s how it always goes, the rising teams catch up and really only have 1-2 seasons to compete with the team who nailed the regs

[@sujjo]

No guys you got it wrong. This low downforce mode and high downforce mode will be in the control of the drivers. That means, every straight, every part of the track that doesn't need much downforce, they'll open up the wings to reduce drag in turn saving energy. The overtakes are gonna happen when they go on manual override mode in designated zones with designated gaps with the car in front. They can basically override the electric power cut off at high speeds and basically get more power compared to the car in front to aid passing. Much like KERS. That means to a certain extent organic overtakes by out braking the driver in front. So yeah.

[@AndrewTSq]

I was hoping active aero meant that a computer is setup to adjust the downforce to every corner. So it can basicly go from 0 to 100% downforce, and maybe use 40% in one corner, and 70% in another and near to 0% on straight.

[@sujjo]

@@AndrewTSq Same here. I was also thinking the same. I am also filled with questions and things to get clarity on. The teams would have already got the detailed tech regulations. We'll have to wait. I think the teams will still have different wing angles dialed into the set up like how it is now. So we might still see cars with different wing angles as the default settings. So the low drag effect respective to their default wing setups could also be different. Aah well let's see.

[@hbrown689]

@@sujjo I'm thinking we might see teams running different downforce levels to one another on certain tracks. I.e tracks like Hungary or Zandvoort with short straights might have some teams running DRS-esque wings for low downforce but others using more of a medium wing set up on low downforce and trying to maximise time gained over the lap rather than straight line speed. Could see teams on more of a tighter budget struggling though, teams essentially need to develop 2 cars for each race...

[@Hoops527]

@@hbrown689I wish this were true, but at the moment to me this x and z mode stuff is complete marketing bs to cover the fact these regs don’t really contain true ‘active’ aero. It’s more of a DRS+ that is available throughout the race. From what I’ve read the low drag (or even call it drag reduction) mode is only available on straights longer than 3 seconds. There is no incentive to do anything with the alternative ‘setup’ other than minimise drag, it’s not gunna change track to track. Where are people reading about these ‘active’ aero zones? It’s just a DRS system that includes the front wing…

[@hbrown689]

@Hoops527 yeh the more I've read about it, it just seems like drs with more activation points. These are supposed to be the best drivers in the world, they should have full control over the car and be able to take risks with things like this

[@scsutton1]

Shorter, narrower, lighter. It's what we wanted, but it still feels like there's a lot more to do.

[@AndrewTSq]

they will not be lighter ?? I mean the minimum weight is less, but they need to carry a much bigger electric battery now?

[@aj384]

@@AndrewTSq the minimum weight includes the battery, the cars will be 30kg lighter

[@AndrewTSq]

@@aj384 I read it as the minimum weight is 30kg lighter, but even this year some teams have troubles going down to the minimum weight limit. The new battery will be 3 times more in capacity so probably +40kg for just the battery.

[@Dyils]

@@AndrewTSq Cool? So? They're still gonna be close to the minimum weight, even if they start 15kg overweight the first year, most should have it handled by the 2nd. Though 30kg isn't enough but it's a start...

[@aj384]

@@AndrewTSq no dude the minimum weight INCLUDES the battery, there is no +40kg, it is all included

[@Случайноерусскоеимя]

In automotive engineering terms, 100mm and 200mm is a lot. New cars often brag about being 20mm wider or having a 20mm longer wheel base. Also mm is what engineers tend to talk in.

[@GortPredator]

This is just nonsense. Engineers talk in whatever units are most convenient. Individual parts mostly mm, assembles depending on size usually move to cm. Tolerances usually mm, but also some talk in microns. Overall body's meters

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

10cm is actually kind of a lot in car width terms. The difference between an M3 and a Ford F150 is 12cm. The new cars are actually about half-way between the current cars and the 2004 cars width-wise.

[@Issam-od4pg]

It doesn't matter what the difference between 2022 and 2026 cars are in terms of dimensions, 2026 cars are still way bigger than the 2000s cars that the race tracks are made for. The comparison shouldn't be 2026 cars are 10cm narrower than 2022 but rather 2026 cars are 15cm wider than 2006 cars

[@Ivyticrea]

@@Issam-od4pgbut are they really made for the 2000s cars? Monaco for example was raced on by even wider f1 cars than we have today

[@SriyanGaming]

@@Ivyticreawhen was that? The 90’s?

[@Issam-od4pg]

​​​@@Ivyticrea yes you can race the 2022 cars but the racing is clunky and often results in crashes like with perez and kmag where there physically isn't enough space to give to go side by side whereas before that was a non issue. And even thinking about it logically most tracks on the calendar today have been on it for more than a decade merely because they used to offer good races with the older cars (again looking at you monaco)

[@ClinicalDecisionYikesYT]

“Not until I shift into manual override” F1 out here copying SpongeBob

[@dumpling1263]

What? I have never seen that clip. Can you link it?

[@Hungary_0987]

@@dumpling1263youtube doesnt allow links

[@cadenburbridge5424]

​@@dumpling1263kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZK8e5eVfbRqeMUfeature=shared

[@pourgoi_6100]

it's maximum overdrive not manual override lmao

[@liamthomas9622]

@@dumpling1263kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZK8e5eVfbRqeMUfeature=shared

[@laurenmp7486]

I hope the FIA doesn't do what they did this last time and let a team force a rule change that undoes the changes. F1 needs cars that can be close and pass each other, if Mercedes or Ferrari get it wrong, the FIA needs to tell them "That's your problem".

[@BurakUnan]

FYI: Dimensions in "mm" is standard in automotive.

[@Gommuten]

The metal industry, particularly the automotive sector, employs millimeters as the standard unit of measurement because all processes, from design and planning to manufacturing and construction, are carried out using this metric. This precision is crucial as even slight deviations of a fraction of a millimeter can result in malfunctioning parts.

[@Mortimer992]

F1 is the pinnacle of engineering why can’t they just say that cars have to be 400 mm narrower and see what constructors do 🤔

[@LinhPham-nc6je]

completely agree, those constructors are all wealthy enough to develop that such radical design.

[@TheMissiIe]

Does Matt know that 25% smaller cars is IMPOSSIBLE? Half the car's width is exclusively used for protecting the driver. If Matt wants 25% smaller cars, he MIST understand that performance will drastically drop, we'd be getting F4 cars

[@louiscypher4186]

Matt doesn't understand why the regulatory body of F1 uses mm.

[@TheMissiIe]

@louiscypher4186 exactly. I like Matt, but man it seems like he doesn't get out in the real world. The whole world uses mm, ml, and grams because it's 1000x (literally) more accurate than metres

[@Mortimer992]

Isn’t F1 the pinnacle of Motorsport and has the best engineering crew money can buy? Yes it would be a challenge but i also think it could be possible.

[@louiscypher4186]

@@Mortimer992 i mean you're right, it could be done. But it's still limited by physics. The FIA isn't compromising on driver safety. The engine manufacturers aren't surrendering hybrids. The only thing left is smaller mechanical components and seeing how they still have to deal with undiagnosed autistics constantly crying about V10 engines, dropping engine capacity even lower would not be welcomed.

[@Mortimer992]

@@TheTazzietiger The lotus 12 was only 1524 mm wide 😉

[@AlbertZonneveld]

8.5 MJ is about 2.4 kWh It represents about 24 seconds at 350 kW of power

[@garchompy_1561]

apparently these regs werent actually approved and there are at least 2 teams that are threatening to leave the sport because of it? and others are annoyed they werent approved before being pushed as final? what a time to be alive...

[@tlreclipse1126]

They won't leave too much money involved.

[@Mortimer992]

And if they leave Andretti and others are there to pick up the shards…. So no-one will want to threaten to leave

[@jacksteven781]

When they talk about nimble. They mean it has 30% less drag. Making it easier to throw into a corner and also easier to spin out.

[@Ivyticrea]

about 45% less drag and a 30% reduction in downforce

[@charles-antoinemartel-roy]

@@Ivyticrea Well, they said the same thing about the 2022 regs, and by now teams have recovered most of it lmao

[@jacksteven781]

@@Ivyticrea sorry. yes. That is what I meant to say

[@laser_simon922]

Tommy is so right with his statement about less grip! If the human is the limit and the car could do more, the 20 „best“ drivers in the world, should all be able to achive this. This means laptimes are very close together, if however the driver can push the car over the limit more easily, like in formula e, racing is muuuch closer. Then the „if theres a gap, go for it“ starts again. Then the driver can brake late, wrestle the carbaround the bend and fight…

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

On the looks of it, go back and look at the concept for the 2022 regs, and then look at the F1-75. They will look fine.

[@charlesgarcia4660]

Tommy hit the nail on the head at 6:00. Slower cars and also lighter. But that hybrid unit just makes it impossible to make these cars small, and it's sad

[@saidterroh5644]

If there going to use 100% sustainable fuel then hybrid is pointless. It just adds weight.

[@rozburg]

has nothing to do with sustainability. the manufactures are in the sport for applicable real world technology. hybrid drive systems are applicable. lab fueled ICE engines have no future on the roads.

[@mg5347]

Sustainable fuel doesn't mean environmentally friendly

[@swipe7249]

Domenicali did mention they would consider removing the hybrid in 2030 if the sustainable fuels are successful

[@notastone4832]

@@mg5347 lol batteries are great for the planet.. definitely not tons of toxic waste involved with manufacturing batteries.. and disposing of them when they are no good anymore.

[@ethannorton564]

@@mg5347 sustainable fuel means net zero carbon footprint. Now that's a ways away but it does mean that it forces the oil companies to actually innovate. Now batteries are another story that are terrible for the environment. Lithium mining and disposal is horrible for the environment with current methods and needs to be fixed for it to be sustainable.

[@srb2834]

There’s no way stroll is going to be able to manage all these buttons at once. A lot more radio transmissions from him during the safety car: “I didn’t see him” & “where did he come from”

[@Treehat]

If you just look at the part of the car that has the large FIA it reminds me of the back of a Citroen (if you ignore that the back wheels are not covered)

[@nurwhal_8694]

These regs are just starting to get good, hopefully these new ones stay a while

[@mikehipperson]

Until 2030.

[@AlbertZonneveld]

The cars are just over 10% smaller in square size but only 4% smaller in weight.

[@toolegittoquit_001]

'less' Not 'smaller'

[@rosgoncharuk2403]

More of the same marketing BS... Why keep turbo if you got rid of MGU-H and everyone moans about the sound? Why make bigger MGU-K+ battery if you want to make cars lighter? Why develop a sustainable fuel if you still keep it hybrid? Why so many engine regulations instead of just giving teams ice/ev power targets and leaving design up to them? Another missed opportunity and another era of regs where 1 team will get it right and be miles ahead!

[@callumt6764]

Literally it's so weird

[@calvinjohnson6521]

Definitely still unsure on the active aero and its effects on the racing. Especially only a couple months after the “spinning on straights” rumors, but we’ll see how it goes

[@Hungary_0987]

Those have been debunked

[@CammyBouse]

The best thing they could do would be to remove the whole "managing" aspect of current F1. Whether that's tyres or fuel, it is an utter embarrassment that most F1 races devolve in such a way, this isn't endurance racing, F1 should be flat out lights to flag, not managing a delta for 65 laps after getting to turn 1 in first.

[@Willbrse]

Ironically endurance racing is now sprint racing between pit stops. The whole managing thing is pretty much gone. I.e if your car is good on tires you can do an extra stint, if it isn't and you try to manage it you are wasting time, it won't help you.

[@ZombieDeMierda]

yeah, I think same. 2 or 3 mandatory pitstop and harder compounds can solve that in a way , they must drive faster to compensate time lost on each pitstop

[@NathanielLangford-f7f]

What you need to remember is that during the V10 era there were more DNFs particularly engine failures. So managing cars isn't new

[@paperplane-db8qf]

But if you want more pitstops and strategies then you need to have tyre wear - which needs race management. Or you do something like Qatar with a mandatory maximum Tyre life or a minimum number of stops.

[@ZombieDeMierda]

@@paperplane-db8qf perhaps a good balance between managing tyre wear and going as fast as possible. Indycar have tyres that don't last that much. I know is a different series and concept, but hell, FIA already make that 2026 regulations with front Wing and Push to pass inspired by Indycar I guess. Just my opinion

[@RobertHarridge]

F1 looked at IndyCar and said "That kind of works." PTP, less downforce, higher top speeds... very IndyCar.

[@EthanH4]

Yeah it's not what F1 is about. F1 is about the peak of innovation and speed. Dumb that down to promote overtaking and you're left with something not much different to indycar and F2

[@Good_Horsey]

​@ethanh3375 Yes that's why most people tune into an F1 race. The innovation...

[@ArielGonzalez1]

@@Good_Horsey i mean, if we take away the girlies glazing over charles or lando, he is right

[@EthanH4]

I'm talking about F1 cars flat out. I watch it for the cars and drivers on the limit of what's possible.

[@b29ak2007]

@@EthanH4 but on the limits of what... now they drive to the limits of tyre wear during the race... Thats if the tyres are even in the bleeding window The only time they are ever on the limit is quali...

[@nathanb286]

They say they need to make the cars more nimble, yet they only reduce the weight limit by 30kg

[@dinonuggie1908]

Any lower and every single team would be overweight so it does not even matter

[@night756]

Not that great. If it was at least a reduction of 60kg I would be like wooow that's a change. But only 30kg, slightly underwhelming

[@CyberFangKO]

Do you mean 30,000g? Big numbers, small reality just like Matt said

[@jasepaul91]

I'd say 30kg is a start. More to be found and would liked it to have been more however, give it time and they will find more

[@Storm_CW]

Minimum of 100kg lighter required to really make them nimble.

[@MMAli-rq8kd]

Tommy: ".... and Logan Sergeant" Matt: " Thank you for watching bye ! " 🤣🤣

[@GamerSloth2275]

"Yay, racing!!"

[@artadhyay5462]

Petition to have this FIA render made into the safety car from 2026! 😂

[@tobynstarr]

They should do the new “DRS” limited to x amount per pitstop to encourage variable pitstop strategies

[@openbabel]

The BSC Consulting Group has recommended that all F1 teams in 2026 should consider LEDs on side pods and rear wings for night races. This would be comparable to airlines using lit tail fins at international airports for safety .

[@kevinsiegel]

I'm just relieved that the FIA didn't mandate that god-awful eyesore of a rear wing from F2. Those things are hideous.

[@mexicanopdb]

No, they look neat in their own respect but it wouldn't fit this F1

[@choco_chan6215]

Am I the only one who liked that one

[@CTcuber4K]

@@choco_chan6215 perchance

[@benmaciver4190]

Agree wholeheartedly! The step nose of 2011, the shark fin of 2017 and the gp2 rear wings can all get in the bin, oh and the walrus nose cone from the fw20..... and I don't care

[@TallTaleGael]

I like the F2 wing

[@shred_zed1]

the new car size is about difference of when you go the barber for a trim

[@BwInNewJersey]

A fade

[@marxlxd]

Matt is trying so hard to politely disagree with the aesthetic of the car 😂 it look like something from 50 years ago honestly

[@abeeshake96]

mm is used as it is the SI unit for length. So it is what is going to be used by all the engineers and designers who will actually build and work on the car.

[@Kira-29]

Thank you FIA for revealing the 26 Williams livery early ;)

[@sasiuru]

Car itself looks fine, and "smaller" size is better, but who the heck had an idea to copy rules from MarioKart (active aero, push to pass) - althought it still miss bubles to slow down cars ahead? Edit: Or was those rules taken from "F1 Race Stars" game... :P

[@TheOfficialMyk]

A good step if we get good racing. I hope they keep this trend and get smaller cars in the future at leas another 10-20cm in width and another 10-30cm in length. Maybe they could bring back refueling. Get a smaller tank, save weight and bring more strategies back to F1.

[@obud3777]

Get rid of hybrid engines!

[@RadityaPramanaPutra2001]

On my fantasy, the 2009-2016 cars is the maximum size of the cars, the engine is V8 with sustainable fuel, and still must including the Halo (safety device) plus blown diffuser and the rainbow tyres.

[@lukew6725]

Amen

[@damianholmes6793]

Just realised we will be calling 'Manual Override Mode' MOM... "Verstappen is currently using his MOM to overtake the McLaren ahead of him" 😭

[@MrConti91]

I just can't understand why there is the need to go for more electrical power, if the cars will be running sustainable fuel anyway. The race nowadays is already a battery management battle. I don't dare to imagine what 2026 will be like. Just bring back classic combustion engines where the drivers can push all race long. (with sustainable fuel of course)

[@AndrewTSq]

well, Indycars use methanol right? that is easy to produce, or we can run the cars on ethanol. (or why not nitro :) :) :)

[@MrConti91]

Everything is better than electric racing.

[@tomatoaim3088]

Disagree. The cars are going to recover way more energy through braking zone than ever before. It is the same as why I don't like refueling. Fuel, Tyre, and battery management are all crucial skills in todays F1 and perhaps even widens the skill gap.

[@MrConti91]

I also don't like the idea of reintroducing refueling. Of course these are crucial skills nowadays. I'm not totally against electrical power. The KERS system from the early 2010's was great. But I want to see drivers going to the limits of the car in a race and not the limits of the battery.

[@tomatoaim3088]

​@@MrConti91 I still don't understand how batteries are currently the limiting factors. I also wish F1 drivers could push constantly, but the reality is that they are in management mode for the majority of the time in races and rarely actually drive to the limits of the car. Tires, battery, all kinds of temperatures, fuel, and other factors all play a bigger role in this.

[@atedejong5620]

in 1998 they changed the regulations by reducing the width from 2000mm to 1800mm.

[@GhostlyMarrow49]

About the using of millimeters. Millimeters are very commonly used in mechanical designs. It does sound bigger but it’s probably just using the mechanical terms.

[@PierreGaslyfan]

rip drs 2011-2025

[@Tweej]

Long live active aero

[@AndrewTSq]

@@Tweej we just needed the Williams FW15c back, active suspension, abs, active setup that changed into each corner.

[@lukew6725]

DRS is dead, long live DRS!

[@easy_s3351]

The active aero (less drag) is something the drivers will be able to control. So on the straights they can have less drag which means higher top speed which means more energy recovery when braking. They'll also have an "overtake" button which they can use when in a certain distance from the car in front of them. In normal running the engine will not let the car run faster than about 340 kph but when using the overtake button the car will be able to go faster (up to about 355 kph)

[@Ceece20]

This is just an IndyCar with a heavier battery.

[@MLGadventuersinfinance101]

and power steering

[@EhEhEhEINSTEIN]

I'll be curious to see how quickly or slowly in-race front nose changes go once there is active aero added to them.

[@arrimodigitalug7570]

So my understanding of implementing active aero and substituting DRS-regulation is, that those X/Z-section will most likely be implemented at high speed corners and high speed S-turns as well as sections just before long straights. Just remember the aftermath of Saudi Arabia this year. 1. Mercedes couldn't overtake Mclaren, because Mercedes lost so much in the first sector, that they couldn't regain it until the end of the straights. 2. Haas had a top speed advantage, so that K-Mag couldn't be overtaken even with DRS and caused a train. what does active Aero now change? --> all cars do optimize their car for qualifying (fast lap) + overall racespeed (little tire wear). --> that will be regular spec. so in the saudi Arabia scenario, it would have impacted the Merc/Mclaren fight in that manner, that Merc could have their regular set up switched to high downforce (Z) to better follow McLaren in sector 1... Mclaren would do the same to cover, but would possibly not gain as much as Merc would. And to the K-Mag train: When the active aero is available for large sections of the track (like > 20%), different cars which are running close to another one, could start studying the car in front and deek them by driving through a specific section with X-mode for 6 laps and then in the seventh lap enable Z mode and drive a completely different line then before. (i do think it will be highly difficult for the defending car to see in the mirror on which mode the follow-up car is cornering)

[@MathewSmart]

Before the new Reg cars come in I would love to see a top 3 car against the 2022 prototype to see how much change there's been visually since the start of the previous Regs, like a last technical breakdown before end of season...

[@95mushroom]

"Pinnacle of motorsports" yet there's even more gimmicks. How long before there's light up chevrons on track that drivers run over for power ups? Push-to-pass is arcadey in Indycar, and it'll be worse in F1.

[@callumt6764]

Embarrassing honestly, some of the best racing came from the era where drivers had less help compared to now

[@ChinoKawaii1021]

I hope for monaco, they adjust the override mode to be extra powerful so overtakes are easier

[@SuperRacingBros]

My thoughts are that these regs are moving away or 'want to' move away from aero derived grip and want to focus more on mechanical grip. If that's the case, that might be a huge win for closer racing as I've suggested for a number of years (I think, even going back to previous previous reg change in 2012).

[@scottrobinson4611]

Just for context and to pick an iconic 'smaller' car from eras past, the F2004 had a wheelbase of 3050mm and a width of 1800mm. The 2026 car is halfway between the 2022 cars and the F2004 in terms of width. And it's about 1/3 of the way closer to the 2004 cars than the 2022 cars. The reduction in size doesn't seem huge, but it's more significant than you think. It's a substantial way towards the smaller cars of the past. Obviously still not 'close' in absolute terms, but relative to the current regulations, it's quite a bit smaller. 5.5% smaller in length, 5% smaller in width, a 10.3% reduction in overall footprint.

[@Robalexe]

The car in front will also have the front and rear wing open, but only the car behind will be able to deploy more electrical energy for a given portion of time during that lap when it gets close enough.

[@SuomiNamco]

i love how it looks, i like how simplistic it looks, especially the fact that it has a tail with no diffuser

[@Jaco_Schutte]

This is just a basic concept. Current cars look almost nothing like the FIA mockups. Expect the same with these rules.

[@Charleswarburtn]

Why not do a min weight for the monocoque only? This would keep it safe for crashes and make the cars lighter

[@Christopher_TG]

The safety cell is not the only safety structure on the car. You also have the front, rear, and side impact structures. You have the roll hoop and halo. And they're not weightless.

[@b29ak2007]

because then teams would try their best to minimise the weight of the other safety elements, which can fail differently in reality as compared to tests. Then you end up with roll hoops like that Zhou had which break in non tested parameters, and Haas's splitting hitting flat walls in Monaco... Monocoque weight is irrelevant... unless they change its material

[@thevictoryoverhimself7298]

Bring refueling back to make the cars smaller. It brought in an interesting strategic aspect to the races (the pass being “on track” doesn’t matter if it’s a soulless DRS or Push to pass button pass) and make it so the cars weren’t literally the size of large American trucks (a fuel tank big enough to complete the race is a major aspect of the cars ballooning in size) Their stated reason that it costs to much to ship the refueling rigs makes a lot less sense when you remember most teams bring a hospitality center to every race that takes 6-8 semi trucks to transport and assemble to wine and dine corporate guests.

[@GazRsExtremeBrickMachines]

Agree, I’ve always watched F1 but recently I’ve been watching indycar and it’s made me miss the different strategy plays we once had.

[@thevictoryoverhimself7298]

@@GazRsExtremeBrickMachines I started watching in 2007 before they even revealed the fuel loads to the public. So nobody knew if they'd compromised their race with a low fuel load to gain track position in qualifying. It was perfect. 2005-2012 was peak F1 for me. As i suspect the first years of any fan is.

[@NexuJin]

@1:17 Thought for a second Tommy was going to sing Dave Rodgers Deja Vu: "Déjà vu. I've just been in this place before" -> "This is it, these are the new regulations."

[@zaphod4245]

"All teams please get them right", or they could all get them wrong, that would be interesting too lol. Kinda like how if RB weren't there in 2022 or 2023, it would have been a great season, if RB hadn't got it right same as the rest, it would have been great lol

[@suiyan6297]

The big problem isn't even the DRS train. Instead, it is the fact that those pulling the DRS can't be passed either, like in miami. Ham behind Mag with DRS and he still couldn't get pass even though Mag had no DRS open. If he can't do that, imagine the cars behind , all with DRS as well.

[@tomatoaim3088]

Hamilton was a different case tho. I believe the Mercedes is slow in straight line,

[@wandeling127]

Dump drs, turbo, active aero. Return to V10. Maybe with some hybrid running on biofuel Lose 100kg and decrease size. That would be great.

[@AndrewTSq]

yes, go back to n/a engines. I mean F1 is not about saving the world, it just gets silly. I actually think refueling should come back too. Then we add tire and fuel strategy into the mix again.

[@StacyODell]

I'd like to see active aero available at all times, so they can adapt on the fly to track conditions, plus add "push to pass" like Indycar uses -- no zones per se, but a limited total amount of push to pass time. I'd also really love to see the active aero used like airplane flaps to add drag and improve braking

[@BillDerr]

The new cars are literally 5% smaller all around. That is something. It's not easy for teams to go something like 25% smaller all around, but you can do increments like this where it's 5% smaller this update, and another 5% when they have another regulation change.

[@RabidJohn]

Tbf, an extra eight inches leeway could've changed the outcome of the Perez/Magnusson incident at Monaco. You see them precisely bumping the barriers at the same track, so that 100mm (4in) is more significant than you might think.

[@Roguescienceguy]

Imagine the front wing failing and flipping the other side up and the car goes airborne 😅

[@sawyerclark1]

it looks more streamlined and nimble whether or not it is a huge difference i’m not too worried because atleast we’re going in the right direction and honestly i think it looks very good

[@TheZachatree]

I liked Tommy’s subtle ending comment. “Yay racing”

[@MoGumbo_]

Atleast they are trying to make the cars smaller and trying to decreas the outwash and dirty air. 2022 said the same thing tho about the dirty air

[@JohnH1]

The question is how much scope is there for variation in design?

[@ralfsbelohvosciks7466]

The part that in my oppinion is a big shame, is that I think Daniel Ricciardo would thrive in these regulations, but I don't think he'll have a seat when 2026 comes

[@callumt6764]

if he does well on the sim he probably will get a seat tbf

[@bryankay2888]

My take is that ALL straights are MOM open zones, and the battery boost will be more discretionary

[@tompsu9536]

I do still think 20 cm thinner and 10 cm shorter is actually quite a lot for one regulation change

[@GamerSloth2275]

20cm shorter and 10cm thinner

[@kendrinkofficial]

the numbers may sound small, but they're 10% smaller and that's a sizable drop when you put it that way!

[@nielsleenknegt5839]

To put the new dimentions into perspective: (this is from just a simple google, i could be typing complete BS) F1-2026 vs F1-2014 (The McLaren MP4-29) Width: 1900mm vs 1800mm Wheelbase: 3400 vs 3460 While the cars are still a bit wider then back then, they have a shorter wheelbase. Some stuff to ponder about.

[@neblolthecarnerd]

Worth noting that it says the wheelbase is decreased by 200mm which is only the difference between the front and rear wheels. The front wing looks more stubby than the current ruleset so they could be even shorter length wise.

[@stigvanbrabant2325]

I think 10cm is actually quite a lot in f1 terms. Isn't it like the same gist with what 1kg extra weight does to a f1 car? Obviously less impactfull then that, but i think it would have more effect than you would think at first thought.

[@nicdesmedt7443]

Still think they should somehow put a limit on the amount off generated dirty air. Also was hoping the cars would get a lot smaller, but I also think F1 expected the teams to be able to get their heads wrapped around the "floor" problem and the "porpoising", which would be necessary to reduce the "upstairs" aero surfaces and hence allow a decrease in length. So I am holding out some hopes on that front for the future. I also think they should try to find a way to reduce the volume or distribute the volume off the engine a bit more, so the size cn be reduced on that aspect as well.. (can't expect drivers to ride a car around with the engine between their legs, can we now?)

[@michaelschablon6148]

Power that exceeds a cars chassis / aero capabilities usually requires more driver skill to go fast. I like that. And I think high power, low grip cars allow us to see who the great drivers really are.

[@ybot5549]

i think they should add a active areo that is controlled by the driver maybe in the same way that DAS was done buy pulling and pushing the wheel, it would make another ellement that means drivers skill is better represented and they can push even more at the risk of crashing. i think it would become something like leaning in motogp where they all use it but the best are able to manipulate it to their advantage. edit: WITH NO ZONES, let them push the limits. and before someone says this will be dangerous, they can always crash, that's not changing and mechanicals can already happen.

[@dans7556]

The example car looks so good! So sleek and I'm loving it

[@scofield816]

The active aero only activates at 340 km/h, so it will never activate at tracks that need it the most like Monaco, Imola

[@prasannamufc]

The only way to truly make them smaller and nimble is to get rid of the hybrid, and target only ICE with sustainable fuels, and possibly allow for refueling. I get refueling is a safety risk, but it isn't new and can be done again with greater emphasis on safety. It'll drastically decrease the size and weight of the cars, and gives drivers the incentive to actually PUSH in races to make a gap before stopping for fuel and tires.

[@Sederiq]

To advance this active aero idea, drivers could be given control of the front and rear wing downforce levels - just like they already tune brake balance, differentials, engine modes etc.

[@markgr1nyer]

I'd like to see an "Adjusted areo time" limit for each lap. So you can use the adjusted areos for a percentage of the lap, but you can do it anywhere in the lap. Mix it up that way

[@jwiggs82]

No, I’d say what effectively happened in ‘21 was that the FIA/Tombassis successfully figured out how to pull Mercedes back, if Merc would’ve been able to simply evolve the W11 Lewis would’ve cruised to tittle No. 8.

[@budthecyborg4575]

The size restrictions are a step in the right direction but they should have gone striaght to 1800mm width. The dimensions of Ferrari F2004, the greatest racing car ever built, are 1796mm x 4545mm - vs 2026 regs 1900mm x 3400. (It is crazy to think they've cut a full meter of length off the cars in the last 20 years, but that doesn't make passing easier at Monaco.)

[@mds201]

I work in construction and 100 millimetres sounds like a lot.

[@kabuki7038]

There really does need to be a push to pass type system. It feels more like the drivers making decisions and not just arbitrary DRS zones. From what I understand KERS was like that, but I wasn't watching back then so I can't speak to that.

[@Scapegoat-po2ou]

KERS never left the sport, it was just renamed to ERS. Both systems have been in use since 2011.

[@kabuki7038]

@@Scapegoat-po2ou But weren't the driver in more direct control over it rather than the mappings they have now?

[@Jon.S]

The active aero won’t encourage anything cause all drivers have access to it in all the same places? The powerboost thing will replace DRS as the overtake thing, but the aero stuff doesn’t seem like a differentiator?

[@biljancanin]

20 cm in length and 10 in with don't sound much, but take a look at cars that are 20 cm longer and especially 10 cm wider and you see a huge difference. In machinery like the F1, it is huge. Especially the 30 kg reduction in weight. With all that considered, they should be about 0.7-1 second faster than the F1 cars we have now. Of course it depends on the power output and aero, but i think they will be faster, especially in straight line speed

[@ANDREWF891]

A field of McMurtry sized F1 cars.. boom we have passes everywhere and anywhere! The driver's will feel like they are in a MotoGP race!

[@docmccoy9813]

Did you watch the last MotoGP race?

[@jasonmadinya7759]

its just over 10% smaller area, so its still a good reduction in size

[@joegillett2845]

Really hope p2p isnt limited to certain zones. Let them use it once around the lap at any point so there are new possible overtaking places and not a new form of drs trains

[@daliaanghel9093]

I prefer ' aero formula' than ' engine formula'. You have more chances to see the client teams performing better than the ones that supply engines when the differences in cars performance come more from aero elements. Anyway, no matter how strict or strange were the rules, the teams always have found gray areas to exploit them to the limit. It will be interesting.

[@Kieran_OPC]

The wheel width isn't an issue to me it's the fact that they can't stick a wheel INSIDE the challenging cars. The side aero needs to go so they can lets say stick half a tyre inside the car they're racing and then meaning they are going to gain in corners where we can never see an overtake. Less risk of cutting a tyre on a piece of carbon fibre like that GIANT floor section on the 2026 car we've been shown