2026 Formula 1 cars: first renderings of next-generation single-seaters unveiled

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The FIA has recently published the latest update to the draft technical regulations for the 2026 Formula 1 season. After a mandatory nine-day factory shutdown during the holiday period, teams were permitted to resume work on January 2nd, marking the beginning of their focus on the first new aerodynamic concepts for the next generation of cars.

In each team’s technical department, a team of specialists works to interpret the complex regulations, and their expertise could prove crucial in navigating the many uncertainties surrounding the new rules. However, this phase also presents a risk: teams may become overly ambitious in their interpretations, which could lead to mistakes or missed opportunities. It’s a critical period where teams are likely to explore potential gray areas within the regulations, but unlike in previous years, there is a higher risk of wasting valuable wind tunnel hours on ideas that may not prove effective. Nevertheless, we can expect significant developments from teams that will soon shift their focus from the 2025 Formula 1 season.

From an engineering perspective, the early stages of the design process for both 2025 and 2026 are expected to see a balance of about 50% of the teams’ resources allocated to each season. However, this distribution will soon lean more heavily toward 2026 as the season progresses. The timing of this shift will largely depend on how competitive a team is when the 2025 season begins. Teams that find themselves behind in the early stages may prioritize their efforts on 2026 sooner rather than later.

In terms of regulatory clarification, teams are likely to maintain ongoing discussions with the FIA to ensure compliance and address any uncertainties. However, if a team believes it has discovered a groundbreaking innovation, it may push the limits of regulatory interpretation. An example of this occurred at the start of 2022, when Mercedes faced scrutiny over its design of anti-intrusion cones used as aero diverters. This controversy quickly faded due to the struggles of the W13, highlighting the fine line between clever design and overstepping regulatory boundaries.

In collaboration with “Qvist Design,” the Italian news site AutoRacer presents a first rendering of the 2026 F1 car, which, based on gathered information, closely resembles the base model. From this point, teams have numerous potential avenues for development. However, certain overarching aerodynamic concepts remain to be defined.

One noticeable change in the 2026 design is the reduction in overall size, although the difference won’t be drastic. The cars will be slightly smaller, but the challenge of meeting minimum weight requirements remains a significant factor. Despite this, the cars will likely appear more consistent with the traditional F1 aesthetic. Notably, the front wing will be narrower, and the tires will also be reduced in size. In addition, significant changes are expected in how airflow is managed around the endplate and the wake generated by the front tire profile.

One of the advantages of these changes is the potential for less dependency on height adjustments and a reduction in the required stiffness, which could lead to improved aerodynamic flow and less need for powerful flow extraction. These adjustments are expected to improve driving comfort, especially with the elimination of porpoising, and the overall correlation between wind tunnel data and real-world track performance should also improve.

In terms of car setup, we may see a return to more pronounced rake angles or a more settled stance, with height adjustments becoming less critical and less sensitive. This shift could make the cars more manageable on track.

The new cars will also feature a floor with less air-consuming inlets, eliminating the need for large diffusers. As a result, the downforce requirements will likely shift toward the upper parts of the car, particularly in the corners where downforce is most crucial.

Regarding drag reduction, teams can expect a range of wings designed for medium to high downforce configurations, providing more flexibility in managing aerodynamic efficiency.

One key challenge for the new regulations is addressing the issue of dirty air, which has long been a concern for drivers following closely behind other cars. The team led by Nikolas Tombazis has reportedly aimed to design the new cars with less reliance on negative wake, which is traditionally associated with turbulent airflow and dirty air. While it's impossible to fully eliminate this phenomenon, the design changes will certainly seek to reduce its impact.

Ultimately, the designs that keep airflow attached to the car’s body (inwash) are the most difficult to optimize downstream. In contrast, directing airflow outward helps clean up the overall model and improves cornering efficiency. It will be fascinating to observe how the new floor edges are developed and how deep the car's underbody will be excavated to accommodate cooling requirements, especially with the introduction of the new 350 kW electrical components.

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