2026 F1 regs

[budgie smuggler]

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

[budgie smuggler]

Had to use postimages.org as thumbsnap not playing ball

[OnDaysLikeThese]

That’s a good looking car. Good to see them get a bit smaller, especially for city circuits.

[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?

[C5_Steve]

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?

[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/

[C5_Steve]

budgie smuggler said:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-explains-plan...

Thanks for that, explains the "why" very well. Guess we'll have to wait and see how it's actually implemented.

[kambites]

Looks like a step in the right direction. No word on weight?

[cholo]

Strange that they've decided to go back to smaller wheels?

[kambites]

cholo said:

Strange that they've decided to go back to smaller wheels?

Probably pressure from the teams? From what I've read, they pretty much universally hated the 18s.

[Rowe]

Agreed it certainly looks a step in the right direction.
The second 'barge board' type device on the sidepod looks like an interesting addition to reduce the outwash.

The only let-down is the increased electrification IMO

[MustangGT]

One thing missing is no statement on weight.. They need to lose c. 150 kg in my opinion.

[carl_w]

cholo said:

Strange that they've decided to go back to smaller wheels?

For weight saving I believe.

[Heathwood]

All looks good. My only fear is that reg changes of late have tended to lead to one team taking a notable early advantage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the top teams close up by 2025 only for things to revert back to a lack of competitive racing at the front for 2026.

[kambites]

MustangGT said:

They need to lose c. 150 kg in my opinion.

The current cars are about 720kg excluding fuel and driver; I don't think 570kg is viable without significantly compromising safety, which is not going to happen.

[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.

[TikTak]

kambites said:

MustangGT said:

They need to lose c. 150 kg in my opinion.

The current cars are about 720kg excluding fuel and driver; I don't think 570kg is viable without significantly compromising safety, which is not going to happen.

Yep, the itk people were saying the FIA is looking at a 50kg drop. So it's a start.

Bit sad about going to 16"

[MustangGT]

kambites said:

MustangGT said:

They need to lose c. 150 kg in my opinion.

The current cars are about 720kg excluding fuel and driver; I don't think 570kg is viable without significantly compromising safety, which is not going to happen.

Not quite, the minimum weight in 2023 is 798kg, so around 650-700 should be achievable.

[kambites]

MustangGT said:

Not quite, the minimum weight in 2023 is 798kg, so around 650-700 should be achievable.

798kg including driver; and the driver and seat have a minimum weight of 80kg so without the driver and seat (the seat only being of significant weight in order to make the differential in driver weights fair) the cars are 718kg.

[MustangGT]

kambites said:

MustangGT said:

Not quite, the minimum weight in 2023 is 798kg, so around 650-700 should be achievable.

798kg including driver; and the driver and seat have a minimum weight of 80kg so without the driver and seat (the seat only being of significant weight in order to make the differential in driver weights fair) the cars are 718kg.

Missed that bit, my bad.