Formula 1 2026: BBC Sport details what’s changing in the sport this season

Formula 1 is entering the unknown with some of the biggest rule changes the sport has ever seen, with a new power unit, chassis, tires and fuel unit for 2026.

Cars are now smaller and more environmentally friendly, with engines split nearly 50-50 between electric and internal combustion power – and using entirely sustainable fuels.

However, there are concerns within Formula One about the degree of energy management required, and how this will affect driving styles during qualifying and races.

The Drag Reduction System (DRS) has been replaced by Overtake mode, which gives drivers a boost of extra electric power when they are within one second of the vehicle in front of them at the detection point, which is usually at the final corner.

DRS is no longer present due to active aero, which allows both the rear and front wings to adjust angles on the straights to reduce drag and increase downforce in corners.

During the second week of pre-season testing, Ferrari caught attention with its ‘inverted’ rotary rear wing when the car’s straight-line mode was activated.

Opinions were mixed on the new cars and regulations during the six days of testing in Bahrain.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said they were “like Formula E on steroids” due to the engine’s increased demands for power management, while seven-times title winner Lewis Hamilton commented that the new rules made F1 “ridiculously complex”, although he said the cars were “more fun” to drive.