2026 F1 regs

[budgie smuggler]

https://twitter.com/tgruener/status/17246554127277...

[budgie smuggler]

Had to use postimages.org as thumbsnap not playing ball

[budgie smuggler]

Smaller is always good. Inwash is the big thing for me, should help with dirty air until the teams figure out how to turn it back into outwash.

Not sure what the 4 RW elements is about, I guess to make it easier to trim small amounts of drag?

[budgie smuggler]

C5_Steve said:

Looks good to me, potentially stupid question but whats the active aero elements? Assume for the rear wing that's the DRS we already have or is it something different? And for the front wing?

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-explains-plan-for-active-aero-to-improve-racing-for-2026/10422851/

[budgie smuggler]

In the linked AMuS article from the tweet, they are saying there will be 25-30kg weight reduction.

Hard to imagine there will be much more while they keep increasing battery sizes.

[budgie smuggler]

kambites said:

budgie smuggler said:

Hard to imagine there will be much more while they keep increasing battery sizes.

Are they increasing battery sizes? I'd missed that bit.

I believe they are removing the MGU-H and increasing the power of the MGU-K and battery size to (somewhat) compensate.

eta- sorry i was bullstting there apparently the capacity of the battery is staying the same
https://www.planetf1.com/features/explained-2026-f...

[budgie smuggler]

A slightly more positive take on it by Mark Hughes

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/uncate...

[budgie smuggler]

Crudeoink said:

Edit to add:
If we want to see innovation, cap the physical size and weight of the battery but let the teams cram as many kWh in as possible

Edited by Crudeoink on Thursday 24th April 13:20

Yes, or make the KWH fixed and allow it to be made lighter. Lighter batteries would be a genuinely road relevant innovation as well.

That's what I don't really get with this, the formula is so prescribed that it seems there is minimal innovation on the electrical side. Why not just make a spec part then?

Edited by budgie smuggler on Friday 25th April 13:47

[budgie smuggler]

marine boy said:

I'm well dug in on a frontline trench of this electrical war that is raging towards 2026

From where I'm hunkered down I see plenty of electrical innovation going on around me

It's just that it's so secret only a handful of people know about it, sadly the public will never get to hear about it and maybe some of the technology/weight saving might reach road cars in 10-20yrs time

Can fully understand why certain PU manufacturers are crapping themselves and so they should be!

Well that's positive at least!