From the 2026 season, Formula 1 races with smaller and lighter cars, power units in which roughly half the power comes from the electric motor, and active aerodynamics instead of DRS. Under FIA rules, fuel must come from non-fossil sources. Below you will find all the main changes clearly laid out, with figures.
The data come from official material published by the FIA and Formula 1, manufacturers and tyre supplier Pirelli. Status: 15 October 2026, including changes approved during the season.
The changes at a glance
| Area | Until 2025 | From 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weight (incl. driver) | 800 kg | 768 kg |
| Maximum wheelbase | 3,600 mm | 3,400 mm |
| Car width | 2,000 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Tyres | 18-inch | 18-inch; fronts 25 mm and rears 30 mm narrower |
| Downforce / drag | – | FIA target: downforce −30%, drag −55% |
| Engine | 1.6-litre turbo V6 + MGU-K + MGU-H | 1.6-litre turbo V6 + MGU-K, no MGU-H |
| MGU-K electric motor output | 120 kW | 350 kW |
| Combustion engine output | approx. 550–560 kW | approx. 400 kW |
| Energy recovery | roughly half | up to 8.5 MJ per lap |
| Compression ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 |
| Overtaking aid | DRS | active aerodynamics + Overtake Mode |
Power unit: half the power from electricity
The basis stays the same – a 1.6-litre turbocharged V6. But the balance between the combustion engine and electricity changes fundamentally:
- The MGU-H is gone. The system that recovered energy from the turbocharger was expensive and complex. Dropping it was meant to make it easier for new manufacturers to enter.
- The MGU-K is almost three times as powerful. The electric motor on the drivetrain delivers up to 350 kW instead of 120 kW.
- The combustion engine is weaker, at about 400 kW. The combustion/electric power split in 2026 is roughly 53:47.
- More recovery: a car can recover up to 8.5 MJ of energy per lap, about double the previous amount.
In practice, drivers and teams spend much more effort on energy management – where to charge the battery and where to deploy it. New terms entered the rules, such as Recharge (charging under braking, part throttle or during so-called super clipping, when the engine sends part of its output to the battery at the end of a straight) and the Boost button, which lets a driver call up maximum power anywhere on the lap.
2026 power unit manufacturers
- Mercedes: Mercedes, McLaren, Williams, Alpine
- Ferrari: Ferrari, Haas, Cadillac
- Honda: Aston Martin
- Red Bull Ford: Red Bull Racing, Racing Bulls
- Audi: Audi (formerly Sauber)
Active aerodynamics instead of DRS
Both the front and rear wings have movable flaps with two modes:
- Z-mode (corner mode): the flaps are “closed” and the wings generate maximum downforce.
- X-mode (straight mode): the flaps “open”, drag drops and the car is faster on the straight.
Unlike DRS, there are more designated zones per circuit and the driver does not need to be within one second of the car ahead – every driver opens the wings manually. They close automatically under braking or when the driver lifts off the throttle.
Overtake Mode: the new overtaking aid
DRS's role as an overtaking tool has been taken over by Overtake Mode. If a driver is less than one second behind the car ahead at the detection point (usually the final corner), they get an extra 0.5 MJ of energy and a stronger electric power profile for the following lap. The attacker can therefore use the battery more aggressively than the driver in front.
Fuel
From 2026 all cars must use fuel that the FIA classifies as “advanced sustainable fuel”. Under the rules it must not come from fossil sources – it is made, for example, from non-food biomass, waste or captured carbon. Fuel use is now limited by energy flow rather than mass flow.
Smaller, lighter cars
The cars are shorter (wheelbase up to 3,400 mm), narrower (1,900 mm) and lighter (768 kg). The aim was to make them more agile, especially on tight street circuits. Pirelli keeps 18-inch wheels, but the tyres are narrower and slightly smaller in diameter (15 mm at the front, 10 mm at the rear). Downforce has dropped by about a third and the floor is partly flat.
Safety
- Two-stage front impact structure: the nose is designed to absorb both a first and a second impact and reduce the risk of it detaching in a crash.
- Stricter side intrusion tests and better protection of the cockpit and fuel cell.
Changes during the 2026 season
The new rules were fine-tuned several times during their first year:
- Compression ratio: after a dispute over cold measurement, since 1 June 2026 it has been checked both cold and at operating temperature; from 2027 only under operating conditions.
- Qualifying: with 22 cars, six drivers drop out in each of Q1 and Q2, and Q3 lasts 13 minutes.
- Energy management: after the Miami Grand Prix, limits were adjusted, for example for super clipping (from 250 to 350 kW) and for energy recovery in qualifying.
What changes in 2027 and 2028
After drivers criticised the heavy focus on energy management, the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved in June 2026 a gradual shift of power back towards the combustion engine:
| Parameter | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. combustion engine output | 400 kW | 420 kW | 450 kW |
| Max. MGU-K output | 350 kW | 300 kW | 300 kW |
| MGU-K in Overtake Mode | 350 kW | 350 kW | 350 kW |
| Max. harvesting power | 350 kW | 375 kW | 400 kW |
| Combustion / electric split | 53 / 47 | 58 / 42 | 60 / 40 |
The higher combustion output comes from increased fuel flow (according to the agreement between the FIA and the teams, 5% more in 2027 and 13% more in 2028 compared with 2026).
New-era cars in your collection
The rule change also means a new car shape, so models of the 2022–2025 cars close one design era. You will find car models in the Formula 1 Models collection, helmets in F1 Driver Helmet Models and more in F1 Collectibles.
Frequently asked questions
Is there still DRS in F1 from 2026?
No. DRS has been replaced by active aerodynamics, which drivers can use on defined straights regardless of the gap to the car ahead, and by Overtake Mode, which gives a driver within one second of the car ahead extra electrical energy and power.
How much does a 2026 F1 car weigh?
The minimum weight is 768 kg, roughly 30 kg less than the previous generation. The driver is included in the weight.
Why was the MGU-H dropped?
The MGU-H was regarded as technically complex and expensive. Dropping it was meant to simplify the power units and make it easier for new manufacturers such as Audi, or Ford in partnership with Red Bull, to enter.
Do the rules change again in 2027?
Yes, for the power units. The FIA has approved an increase in combustion engine output to 420 kW for 2027 and a reduction of maximum electric motor output to 300 kW (350 kW remains available in Overtake Mode). The split therefore shifts from 53/47 to 58/42 in favour of the combustion engine.