F1 2026 thread

agreed, ths is outrageous a central power. deciding how fast you go and penalising you if you're in front. adios racing.

 

There are varieties of over ride stories out for months now. This is not being reported as B O P anywhere else in F1 press with a few searches today. Not certain this is an end of the world truth as reported in the link from Scuderia Fans and another 'publication' known as motor-addict.

 

I think the 2026 F1 rules will answer the public demand for more suspense to the end of GPs.
In the last 20 years, the new audience of spectators and viewers have asked for more action
You can only obtain that by manipulating the racing, as it has been done in different series (red flags, safety cars, penalties, etc ...) .
For an old F1 follower like me (since 1961), this is total anathema of course, but that's the path chosen by the FIA.
The budget cap hasn't delivered the parity the sporting authority wanted, so now an electronic override from race control during races is the next solution. That's crazy, but it's the way it is.
Indycar solution to reach parity with a spec series has never looked more sensible from a sporting and business point of view.
But the FIA wants to attract constructors to finance the F1 teams ...

 

It's been also announced that from 2026 on, the Monaco GP will be moved to the first weekend in June, thus eliminating the long-standing conflict with the Indy 500.

This means that theoretically F1 drivers could compete in the 500, as was done at times in the '60s. Perhaps Fernando can resume his quest for the Triple Crown?

 

F1 2026 CGI images by the FIA


Image Unavailable, Please Login


Image Unavailable, Please Login


Image Unavailable, Please Login


Image Unavailable, Please Login


Image Unavailable, Please Login


Image Unavailable, Please Login


Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

After all the teams said the car was basically undrivable in the simulator and that the cornering speed vs straightline speed was way out of balance, did the FIA make any changes to help this?

 

I think the Cadillac F1 racing team will be more Italian than the old Sauber Alfa team was

OFFICIAL: Ferrari to supply engines to Cadillac... - Ferrari Club UK

 

Will be interesting to see what the teams deploy under the new regs in terms of car design. 2025 will be interesting but even before summer they will shift development rather quickly to the new cars.

Gary Anderson: F1 2026 cars won't look like you - nor the FIA - expect

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-f1-2026-cars-wont-look-like-you-or-the-fia-expect/

 

and RB has to develop an engine as well.....

 

Honda-esque to start. Will be interesting how that turns out. Possibly the biggest technical story of 2026 along with the new chassis/aero. A large investment for MaxBull it is!

 

Interesting look at the new efforts of Audi and Cadillac with the issues they face currently.

Gary Anderson: Which of Audi and Cadillac is the better bet?
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-which-of-audi-and-cadillac-is-the-better-bet/

 

Newey expects F1 2026 to be engine-dominated

"There has to be a big chance that it's an engine formula at the start," Newey told German publication Auto Motor und Sport. "I can't remember another time in Formula 1 when both the chassis regulations and the engine regulations have changed simultaneously, and where in this case the chassis regulations have been very much written to try to compensate, let's say, for the power unit regulations. So, it's an extra dimension.

"There has to be a chance that one manufacturer will come out well on top, and it will become a power-unit-dominated regulation, at least to start with. There's a chance that if it's on the combustion engine side of it, that somebody comes up with a dominant combustion engine that will last through the length of the formula, because the way the regulations are written, it's quite difficult for people who are behind to catch up.

"If it's on the electrical side, then there's much more ability to catch up if you're behind. And on the fuel side, which might play a role as well, there's flexibility in principle, but with dyno restrictions and the fact that everything's so optimised, you can't simply chuck a different fuel into an engine that hasn't been optimised for it."

 

If we want some action... some variability... the answer is not constricting team... it's letting them go. Give them two or three engine options... let run as much fuel and at whatever rate they want, and let them use whatever tire they want... however many times they want. We could have turbos, NA's, two cycle screamers... whatever. Put some bumpers around those things and let's go racing.

 

I, personally, do not expect either of them to break into the top 10 in their first season.

 

I don't think they expect it either !!

 

Fun for Honda lol

Honda struggles with 2026 power unit development
Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), admits that developing the new F1 power unit for Aston Martin has not been easy. While the new regulations come into force in 2026, producing a competitive engine already seems to be a tough task.


Asked by PlanetF1.com how the development of Honda's new power unit for next year is progressing, Watanabe responded, "We are struggling. Now we are trying our best to show the result next year.”


"Everything is new," the Honda chief went on to explain what makes the development so difficult. "The motor is a new 355-kW, very compact one we need. Also the lightweight battery, it’s not so easy to develop. And also the small engine with the big power. Everything is very difficult, but we try our best."

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Narrower tyres = less grip = more sliding = cars more difficult to control = showing more driver's skill.

I am all for it !!

 

I think teams will develop more downforce rear wings, more downforce front wings and more downforce floors to compensate for the loss in downforce in the 2026 cars.

 

????

I thought downforce was going to be reduced by 40% from 2026 under the new regulations?

 

Well, each track is downforce specific. I suspect teams will make aero more downforce specific according to the track i.e. a Monaco rear wing(high downforce) as opposed to a Spa rear wing(less downforce). Same can be said about the front wing and floor.

 

Yes, but I read sometime ago that the 2026 rules are written to reduce downforce overall by 40%. Is that right ?

I think downforce is excessive, and ruins the racing.

 

No, you're right(reduce 40% downforce).

I just think the engineers can design something to counteract the downforce rules.

 

What, using loopholes in the rules?

 

Wouldn't be the first time now would it?