Formula evolve – Your guide to the 2026 Formula 1 new rules

Formula 1 is always evolving, but the world’s most expensive travelling circus is undergoing a big change for the 2026 season. Here is your guide to all that is new.  

Formula 1 is thriving thanks to a combination of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, social media influencers, and a systematic expansion across the globe. The championship has more eyes on it than ever with viewership steadily growing year-on-year by 12 per cent and is up by 63 per cent since 2018. The total audience is estimated to be in the region of 827 million currently. 

So with more fans than ever, undertaking one of the most significant shake ups the sport has ever seen seems like a risky move. But that’s exactly what has happened for 2026. It’s clear Liberty Media (F1’s parent organisation) doesn’t work on a ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ model. 

There are new drivers, new teams, new cars, new rules, and a new track. There isn’t much they have left unchanged. Though you can probably count on Max’s winning mentality and George’s complaints remaining as a constant. 

More Formula 1 Teams, More Fun? 

The addition of an eleventh team to the grid is one of the biggest changes. While this might seem like a left-field move, a ten-team grid has only been the norm for the last few years. Bringing with it a pair of familiar faces in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, Cadillac will represent the eleventh team for this upcoming season.  

The General Motors-backed entry is the first independent constructor to join the grid since 2016. Cadillac’s team will be led by Graeme Lowdon, who has plenty of experience in the F1 paddock. The British-born businessman previously served as the CEO of the Virgin and Marussia Formula 1 teams. 

Cadillac will use Ferrari power units until 2029, when the Americans intend to start building their own. Dubbed GM PPU, this will be a joint venture between General Motors and TWG, with its headquarters in Fisher, Indiana. 

Audi is the other new team on the grid, which was formed following an acquisition of Sauber Motorsport. Despite changing the team name and the colours, Audi has decided to stick with Sauber’s driver pairing of Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. Heading up Audi’s F1 entry are a slew of familiar names, including Mattia Binotto, James Key, and Jonathan Wheatley as the team principal. 

With the addition of Cadillac and Audi to F1, more than half of the grid is represented by automotive OEMs. The other four include McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Alpine. 

New Rules Mean New Engines 

A new set of rules has brought with it the biggest change to Formula 1 powertrains since 2014, which saw the introduction of hybrid systems. Ever since, drivers have had access to an electric boost button on the steering wheel, but this is now a lot more powerful with the new powerunits. Called Manual Override Mode, MOM is in and DRS is out for 2026. 

Like DRS, MOM can be activated if a driver is within a second of the car in front. Once engaged, an extra 0.5MJ (megajoules) can be deployed to generate a higher speed for longer, with velocities in excess of 335km/h now possible.  

The basis of the 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine remains the same, but almost everything else has been changed. No longer is the MGU-H (motor generator unit – heat) in use (the system that converted engine heat into energy), replaced by with a MGU-K (K for kinetic energy recovery). This is much stronger, delivering more power, acceleration and offering greater energy regeneration. 

These hybrid engines are now required to have a 50/50 split in terms of power production between internal combustion and electric energy. All cars will also use a new, fully sustainable fuel, in an attempt to reduce the overall emissions of the sport. It’s expected that the cars will be more fuel efficient, burning through around 70kg of gas during a race, 30 less than in 2025. So that should mean fewer pit stops and more racing to decide the finishing order. 

In preparing for these changes, car makers have reportedly had to reconsider elements such as cooling systems, engine packaging, and energy management strategies. 

It has been reported that Mercedes is leading the charge on electric efficiency, Ferrari is focusing on thermal management and drivability, and Red Bull-Ford is leaning heavily into battery optimisation. 

Active Aero, Manual Controls 

As mentioned, DRS is out but Active Aero is in. And while you could argue DRS was a form of active aero, this new system adjusts both the rear wing and the front splitter. 

The front and rear wings default to their “closed” position to improve downforce, and drivers will have to manually open them via a steering wheel button to reduce drag. Drivers can only be in ‘X-mode’ with wings open on the straights. 

Similar to DRS, drivers are able to manually “close” the wings, or they will automatically close if they brake, or lift off the throttle. This ‘Z-mode’ occurs in any section of the track with bends present. There is also an automatic feature that will close the wings if a driver tries to enter certain high-speed corners with them open. This is to avoid situations like Jack Doohan’s 2025 crash at Turn 1 of Suzuka. 

With both smaller front and rear wings, overall drag will be reduced by 55 per cent this year. Cars will have flat floors and simplified bodywork, which along with redesigned wings, is said to reduce the amount of dirty air a car creates. And cleaner air will apparently make for easier overtaking during the race.  

As always, these changes have faced criticism from some, who have referenced how much a driver will have to manage to race competitively. With active aero that is manually controlled, plus a significant dependence placed on boost button strategy, it could take away from traditional racing that fans know and love. However, DRS has played such a significant part of F1 in recent times, that maybe a switch up might bring with it some new dynamics on track. 

Floored

For 2026, the floor of the car will be smoother

A smaller diffuser at the rear equates to less downforce and ground effects.

As a result, cars won’t need to run so low, meaning less bouncing and porpoising.

The cleaner wake will allow following cars better performance and will hopefully improve racing in the wet with less spray.

Smaller Cars, Better Racing? 

Car size has been a complaint of many Formula 1 fans for some time now, and it seems these issues have been addressed, kind of. The wheelbase has been reduced by 200mm to 3.4-metres which should make cars more agile, while the width has been reduced by 100mm to 1.9-metres. The minimum weight has been cut by 32kg to 770kg. The tyres are also slightly narrower measuring 375mm on the rear and 280mm on the front, while they retain an 18-inch diameter. 

Some hope these changes will lead to new overtaking opportunities, and they have the potential to shift tactical strategy from tyre management to energy deployment. 

Qualifying changes in Formula 1 will see all 22 drivers out in Q1, with the top 16 progressing to Q2, and then the top ten fastest will go on to Q3 to settle the first ten spots on the start grid.  

Formula 1 Predictions 

As to what will happen when the lights go out in Melbourne on March 8? That’s anyone’s guess, but it would be a surprise not to see McLaren and Red Bull kicking off the season at the front. Mercedes has the potential to break out in front with its electrical prowess, and impressive driver skill.  

Aston Martin is also one to watch, taking both Adrian Newey and Honda’s power unit from Red Bull; two significant pieces of Max’s dominance. It’d be good to see Ferrari maintain pace throughout the season, and maybe give Charles a decent shot at the championship, while we hope to see Lawson get on the podium.  

After his first hit out in the new Racing Bulls car during shakedown in Barcelona, Lawson was reported as saying: “I definitely haven’t got my head around it fully yet,” in reference to the new car and powerunit. 

“It’s something that we’ll keep learning over the next few days and weeks when we go to Bahrain as well. But it’s very, very different. 

“It feels like there’s a lot more we can do as drivers potentially to make a difference, which is good. 

“But for now, I’m just trying to learn how to optimise the car. I’m enjoying it so far.” And hopefully that continues for the rest of the year.