On Thursday, the FIA unveiled the new regulations for 2026 – Formula 1 cars are set to become lighter, smaller, and will rely on new aerodynamic tricks. Whether these changes will make racing more exciting remains to be seen. However, the FIA has high expectations, anticipating a shake-up in the current pecking order.
The new engine regulations have been known for some time – by 2026, drivers like Max Verstappen and his peers will have to rely even more on hybrid propulsion. We now know that the chassis have also been revamped. The FIA talks about ‘more agile’ cars that should make overtaking easier. Top executive Nikolas Tombazis believes the championship will become much more thrilling. According to him, the all-important ranking order is likely to change as well.
“The goal is not to change the pecking order,” Tombazis said about the new regulations. “We can never predict who will get off to a flying start and who won’t. But every time a major change is implemented, we expect the hierarchy to be thoroughly shaken up.”
Input from the Teams
Tombazis refers to a ‘small revolution’ when describing the new regulations. He admits that the FIA made some mistakes when implementing the last major changes – the cars introduced in 2022 were also supposed to make races more exciting. In reality, one team managed to win 21 out of 22 races last year.
“I truly believe that the races will become even more exciting in 2026,” Tombazis continued optimistically. The FIA consulted with the teams to ensure that the new cars can perform optimally. Unpleasant side effects, such as the infamous ‘porpoising’ of 2022, should now be nipped in the bud. “We have worked very closely with the various teams,” Tombazis explained. “They have already been able to run a number of simulations and provide feedback on these new regulations.”
