As Formula 1 awaits the technical rules for 2026, there is also consideration of potential adjustments to the format. According to British sources, officials are evaluating various proposals that could influence free practice, qualifications, and even the race duration. These proposals were partly discussed during the recent Sporting Advisory Committee (SAC) and will be further addressed in the coming weeks.
According to The Race, there are three specific ideas; adjustments to the sprint weekends, the qualification format, and the race duration. It is still unclear which proposals will actually gain support and whether they can be implemented in time for the 2026 season. In the coming weeks, the commissioners of Formula 1 want to further discuss these new rules.
Potential New Rules in Formula 1
One of the ideas discussed focuses on the sprint weekends. In this, the teams get limited time during a single free practice to set up their cars. Interruptions of this training session by red flags cause drivers to lose additional precious minutes. The proposal is that lost time due to a red flag is added at the end of the session, up to a maximum of fifteen minutes. This would give teams more opportunity to optimally set up their car before the qualification begins.
With the arrival of Cadillac as the eleventh team in 2026, the qualification format should also be revised. Currently, five cars drop out in Q1 and five in Q2, after which ten cars move on to Q3. Next year, six cars will drop out in Q1 and six in Q2. To prevent drivers from getting stuck in the pit lane and not being able to start a round, it has also been proposed to extend Q1 and Q2 by one or two minutes. This should reduce the risk of time-outs and make the qualification rhythm safer and fairer.
Finally, Formula 1 may also standardize the race duration. Although the distance of races is fixed – at least 305 kilometers, with the exception of Monaco – the actual race time varies greatly due to differences in track speed. For example, the Italian GP in Monza this year lasted only one hour and 13 minutes, while the GP of Singapore took a full one hour and 40 minutes. The proposal is to standardize the race duration. This would make it easier for broadcasters and fans to plan and follow races.
