F1 2026: Everything you need to know about the new rules, cars, engines, power and how it will all work

From 2022 to 2025, cars were based on an aerodynamic philosophy known as “ground effect”. They had venturi tunnels curved under the car – essentially turning the underside of the car into two giant wings – which created an area of ​​low pressure that sucked the car into the track.

The governing body of the FIA ​​decided to abandon this approach because it led to cars that needed low running and with very stiff suspension for optimal performance. Drivers welcomed this change because previous cars were uncomfortable to drive and led to back problems.

New cars returned to what is known as the “gradient plane” philosophy. The underside is flat in the area between the wheels, with the central part – the frame in which the driver sits – lower than the floor on either side.

In addition, the cars were made narrower, smaller and about 30 kg lighter, to increase their maneuverability.

For now, the cars will be a little slower per lap – around two seconds or so in pre-season testing in Bahrain. But this will change as the development of designs matures.

But the most noticeable change is the front and rear wings.

The engine formula was arrived at before the chassis rules, and it quickly became clear that the cars would be power-hungry. So concessions had to be made to help cars run better with the new engines and get enough power.

Braking is the dominant method of energy recovery in a hybrid car, but older cars would not be able to brake long enough to generate enough electricity.

To increase top speeds and increase braking distances, rule makers came up with moving aerodynamics, which would be known as “straight-line mode” – where the front and rear wings would lie flat on the straights to reduce drag.

The width of the tires was reduced for the same reason, by 25 mm at the front and 30 mm at the rear.

The detrimental effect of this is that the old Drag Reduction Overtaking Assist (DRS), which opened the rear wings on the straights to increase the car’s speed if it was one second behind the car in front, can no longer be used. The wings were already open for another reason.

Instead, an ‘overtake’ mode has been introduced – allowing the driver in the rear car to use their electric boost for a longer period if they are the required distance behind.