Explainer: Formula 1’s new regulations for 2026

Here’s everything you need to know about the new regulations for next season

Published

21 JAN 2026

Est. reading time

2 min

Alex will pilot Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s FW48 next season, as Formula 1 prepares to usher in a brand new set of regulations for 2026.

But what exactly do those updated regulations mean for Albono, Williams and the rest of the grid?

Here’s the low-down on what’s changing for the coming campaign…

Smaller cars

This year’s F1 cars are set to be shorter, narrower and lighter than ever before, as part of one of the biggest overhauls in F1 history.

More precisely, the wheelbase will be 200mm shorter and 100mm narrower, alongside a minimum weight reduction of 30kg — down to 770kg. That’s like removing the weight of a medium sized dog from the car!

And it’s not just the chassis that’s being altered — tyres will be smaller in 2026, too. The same 18inch rim is due to remain, but scaled down by around 5% to reduce drag.

Downforce reduction

As part of an attempt to ensure fast and thrilling racing, overall downforce is being reduced by 20% by removing the ‘ground effect’ tunnels from under the car’s floor and opting for a flatter floor instead.

New racing tools for AA23

Alex and his fellow racers will have a new set of racing tools to get to grips with in 2026.

They include an Overtake Mode that replaces the old Drag Reduction System (DRS) — this can now be used anywhere on the track rather than just specific zones and allows drivers to deploy extra power when they’re within a second of the car in front.

Elsewhere, Boost Mode lets drivers maximise power from the electric motor, if the battery is sufficiently charged. They’ll be able to recharge under braking, throttle lift or gear selection, ready for its use.

There’s also Active Aero, which is essentially the ability to move front and rear wings into different modes for corners and straights — switching between high-downforce and low-drag settings where appropriate.

Power unit changes and sustainability

Williams will be using Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains once again in 2026, and F1’s power units are still 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids.

But the power from the car’s electric motor has been tripled, meaning they now work off almost 50% electrical power.

Elsewhere, the MGU-H heat recovery system has been dropped to save weight, while cars will start using sustainable fuel that doesn’t impact performance.

The hope is that all the above measures lead to a more competitive, captivating and greener 2026 Formula 1 season!