The new F1 season is fast approaching and, this year, it is all change thanks to perhaps the most radical overhaul of the technical regulations in the history of the sport. New power units, futuristic movable wings and sustainable fuels are just a few of the major changes that the teams have been grappling with since the end of the 2025 season.
Getting your head around all of these changes is no small task, so we've put together a handy guide providing a full overview of the 2026 F1 regulations, the team changes, and a few predictions so you know who to put your money on ahead of the new season.
New F1 Engines for 2026
The previous generation of hybrid power units, which have powered the sport since 2014, have finally been replaced with a solution that is technically far less complicated. The complex MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) was not only no longer road-relevant but was also proving to be a stumbling block when it came to attracting new manufacturers to the sport, owing to the difficulty and expense required to master the technology.
In its place is an enhanced MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic), which now offers 350kW of power, up from the previous 120kW units. This should provide approximately 470bhp as part of the sport's aim to achieve a 50:50 split between electric power and the 1.6-litre internal combustion engine.
The removal of the MGU-H not only simplifies the technology but also results in the 2026 F1 engines sounding louder, something that will no doubt please fans watching trackside.
F1 2026 Car Changes
One of the biggest criticisms of the previous generation of F1 cars was their size and weight, both of which had crept up substantially during the first hybrid era. The FIA's 2026 F1 regulations aim to address this by mandating a 200mm reduction in wheelbase (the length of the cars) and a 100mm reduction in width.
As a result, the FIA has reduced the minimum car weight by 30kg to a total of 768kg. This has been a major cause for concern for teams, with the dimensional changes not necessarily being sufficient to achieve the targeted weight reduction. Most teams have therefore been on a major weight-loss programme over the winter, and any car that comes close to achieving the 768kg target is likely to gain a significant competitive advantage.
To put this into perspective, 10kg of extra weight is worth roughly 0.3 seconds per lap. The gap between first and last in qualifying for the season-ending 2025
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was just 1.6 seconds. One team thought to have faced the biggest obstacle in this regard is Williams, with rumours suggesting that the team's latest challenger could be as much as 20kg above the target weight. Using qualifying times from the same Grand Prix as a barometer, that could be the difference between qualifying first and ninth.
F1 2026 Active Aero
Another major change ahead of the new season is the introduction of active aerodynamics. Drivers will be able to manually adjust the front and rear wings of their car depending on the section of circuit they are approaching.
Drivers will be able to switch between low-drag "X-mode" on the straights and high-downforce "Z-mode" in the corners. This will improve efficiency on the straights, increasing top speeds while also enhancing fuel efficiency.
Is There DRS in F1 2026?
Those familiar with the previous regulations will know that the Drag Reduction System (DRS), used over the past 14 seasons, allowed drivers to open the rear wing on designated straights when within one second of the car ahead. This reduced drag and aided overtaking.
However, the introduction of active aerodynamics means there will be no DRS in F1 2026. It is being replaced by a "Manual Override Mode" (MOM), whereby drivers receive an additional boost from the electric motor when within one second of a rival.
Unlike DRS, drivers will be able to deploy MOM wherever they choose across a lap. It is even possible to spread the usage over the course of a lap rather than using all the available electric power in one burst.
F1 2026 Sustainable Fuels
While the car changes will be clearly visible, another unseen factor could dramatically influence the running order: the introduction of fully sustainable fuels.
From the start of the new season, all cars will be required to use 100% advanced sustainable fuel that is completely carbon-neutral, derived from non-food biomass, municipal waste or carbon capture. This is expected to lead to a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from each car.
These fuels are likely to play a major role in the future of road cars, with F1 aiming to attract some of the world's largest fuel companies to use the sport as a test bed for future products. You can therefore expect this to become just as much of a battleground as car and engine development, with Shell (Ferrari), Petronas (Mercedes), ExxonMobil (Red Bull-Ford), Aramco (Aston Martin Honda) and BP (Audi) likely to invest heavily in pursuit of a competitive edge.
What New Teams Are Joining F1 in 2026?
For the first time in a decade, F1 has granted entry to a brand-new team for the 2026 season: Cadillac. Owned by American businessman Dan Towriss, the ten existing teams finally approved the American outfit's entry after being convinced of its potential to attract new fans to the sport. Securing a prime advertising slot during the Super Bowl to launch the new car demonstrates its ambition to expand F1's reach to a wider audience.
Although the team carries the Cadillac branding, it will use a Ferrari engine in its first year. Cadillac is developing its own power unit in the United States, but this is unlikely to be ready before 2029. This gives the squad time to master the chassis regulations before becoming a fully fledged works team.
There is certainly no shortage of experience in the driver line-up, with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas having amassed a combined 527 starts, 106 podiums and 16 victories between them.
Is Audi Joining F1 in 2026?
Audi had long been linked with an F1 entry, and the 2026 regulations finally convinced the German brand to commit. Unlike Cadillac, Audi will build its own engine from the outset. Its first power unit proved reliable during winter testing, although questions remain over its outright performance as the team manages expectations.
In order to enter the sport, Audi has taken over the Sauber team which debuted in F1 in 1993 and enjoyed its most successful period in the late 2000s under BMW ownership. Despite strong backing, the team won just a single Grand Prix courtesy of Robert Kubica in 2008. Audi will be hoping to be far more successful in its own era, given its history of dominance in all other categories of motorsport.
Audi's 2026 driver line-up remains Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. Bortoleto, the 2024 F2 champion, impressed in his debut season, while Hulkenberg remains one of the sport's most experienced drivers, having debuted with Williams in 2010. Despite his longevity, he has only stood on the podium once, a statistic which does not reflect his ability. Even so, Audi's decision to place the 38-year-old German at the forefront of its new project has raised eyebrows. Both drivers, however, should be capable of scoring consistent points in what is likely to be a building year.
The First Adrian Newey Aston Martin F1 Car
One of the biggest moves of the past year was Adrian Newey's decision to leave Red Bull and join Aston Martin. The most successful designer in F1 history, Newey has won 13 drivers' championships and 12 constructors' championships with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull. He also oversaw Red Bull's transformation from underdog to dominant force.
Expectations for 2026 were therefore high and Newey has delivered an intriguing design. His first Aston Martin features solutions that rival teams either had not considered or deemed impossible, including a high-mounted rear suspension with upper wishbones attached to the rear wing pillar to improve aerodynamic efficiency.
However, the car has so far proven both unreliable and difficult to drive. Much of the blame has been directed at new engine supplier Honda, whose MGU-K is reportedly struggling to reach the permitted 350kW output.
Having completed fewer miles than any other team, Aston Martin heads to the opening race of the 2026 season in Melbourne on 8 March with a car that looks unlikely to finish and, perhaps more worryingly, may even be slower than that of brand-new team Cadillac.
Are There Any New F1 Drivers for 2026?
The only
rookie F1 driver in 2026 is Arvid Lindblad, who will debut for RB. A product of the Red Bull Driver Academy, Lindblad follows in the footsteps of Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz.
Despite an underwhelming F2 campaign in 2025, Red Bull has been impressed by the Briton's simulator work and F1 testing performances. Expectations for his future remain high, although early signs suggest RB's new car may struggle to replicate the podium-contending pace of its predecessor.
Who Is Red Bull's F1 Engine Supplier for 2026?
Lindblad's RB car will use the same Red Bull power unit as the senior team and its four-time world champion, Max Verstappen. Red Bull has invested heavily in establishing its own engine division, and the 2026 unit is its first in-house product.
Led by former Mercedes engineer Ben Hodgkinson and badged as Ford following a technical and financial partnership, the power unit has been one of the surprises of winter testing - proving both reliable and strong in electric deployment.
This could be crucial, as one weakness of the 2026 regulations appears to be cars running out of electrical energy at the end of long straights. If Red Bull can sustain deployment for longer, it may gain a decisive advantage in the title fight.
Who Will Have the Best F1 Car in 2026?
Despite Red Bull's apparent electric advantage, many believe Mercedes has produced the strongest overall engine package. The German manufacturer dominated the start of the hybrid era in 2014, securing eight consecutive constructors' championships. While its advantage is unlikely to be as pronounced this time, Ferrari and Red Bull-Ford are expected to push them closely.
If the Mercedes power unit proves superior, George Russell could emerge as favourite for the drivers' title. Often underrated, Russell has previously been held back by uncompetitive machinery. The 2026 Mercedes appears far better balanced than recent predecessors and may finally give him a genuine championship opportunity.
World champions McLaren and Lando Norris will also use Mercedes power. However, as a customer team, McLaren may not benefit from the same level of integration as the works outfit.
Ferrari, meanwhile, is believed to have made significant progress after a difficult 2025 season. With innovative aerodynamic solutions and a competitive engine, Charles Leclerc, and potentially a resurgent Lewis Hamilton, could mount a serious challenge.
Witness the New Era with Elegant Sports
With sweeping regulation changes and multiple well-prepared teams and manufacturers in contention, the 2026 season promises to be a blockbuster.
You can experience the action first-hand by booking a
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