F1 2026 thread

The things we worry about in life lol. You responded to my post which had Sainz name in it. All good of course. Im certain the connection to Mercedes power was important and hearing good things made it easier to refuse Audi and the uncertainty they have as new team and PU provider.

 

Reassuring lol?????

Toto Wolff predicts 2026 F1 racing could become “a chess game”
“It’s different, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worse.”

Toto Wolff expects F1’s new 2026 regulations to transform racing into a more tactical affair, with wheel-to-wheel action potentially becoming like “a chess game.”

The 2026 F1 season will see major changes to the technical regulations, aimed at improving racing.

Engines will be more electrified, while aerodynamic rules have been overhauled.

Active aerodynamics will allow drivers to use moveable front and rear wings.

However, concerns have been raised about the new power units.

There have been suggestions that drivers could run out of battery on power-sensitive circuits, forcing them to back off in braking zones.

Teams are still unsure how the cars will race each other in reality on track.

Speaking in Friday’s press conference at the United States Grand Prix, Wolff was asked how racing will be in 2026.

The Mercedes boss predicted the on-track action will be “different.”

“We don’t know, let’s wait and see. I’ve seen what it looks like in the simulator. It’s different, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worse,” Wolff explained.

“It could be a completely new angle being introduced - in terms of a bit of a chess game, how you play the energy management, where you attack, where you defend.

“I think it’s interesting. But let’s wait. Let’s wait and see if there’s a spread. Let’s wait and see if it’s exciting or not. Probably six months down the line, we’ll know.”

McLaren’s Zak Brown added: “But I’d be surprised if Formula 1 wasn’t very exciting – it always is. The engineers are very smart. Someone may or may not get an advantage or disadvantage at the start of the year.

“But the teams are very clever. We’ve got the best engineers in the world in Formula 1. So if it starts a bit spread out, it won’t take long for it to consolidate. I’m sure it’ll be exciting. I’m not worried about it.”

 

Leaving - not with team so called 'franchise' values in the BILLIONS lol. The only team I see leaving early would be Cadillac. They arent even 'owned' by Cadillac.They own no stock. If the new engine formula is a fail and then more must be spent for another simplified motor and the team shows little progress I could see some doubts there. Overall it would take a major team leaving,like Mercedes to make others feel vulnerable. That and a confirmed value drop for most.

F1 will get a bump next but only for the new rules and cars. How long will that last till race 10? I agree the gross monetization has killed what 'sport' there is but thats not limited to F1. Everyone is millionaire now so we must all just elevate any aspect of F1(make it absurdly more expensive), even fraudulently to gather the available dollars/euros that one can before the gravy train is over.

 

More imposed rules possibly less team freedom….

Pirelli open-minded about 2026 rule changes, including two mandatory pitstops in F1

 

Formula 1 is poised to discuss the prospect of introducing mandatory two-stop races as soon as F1 2026.

It has been confirmed to PlanetF1.com that the concept is set to be tabled to the F1 Commission as a means of spicing up the track action.