Possible radically different F1 cars in 2026: aerodynamics will depend on engine design

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2026 regulations, off to a start. From the beginning of the month, teams are free to conduct simulations for cars based on the new regulations, which promise highly distinct concepts. Aerodynamic shapes will closely depend on engine choices, particularly regarding packaging and the management of the electrical components. This could lead to significant differences in on-track behavior, presenting opportunities but also risks that could alter race dynamics.

Engine management influences aerodynamics
The new regulations bring the car’s overall concept into sharp focus. This goes far beyond bodywork shapes, focusing on how the car is designed to achieve the best balance across performance areas. A classic example is the trade-off between cornering speed and straight-line speed, determining the optimal aerodynamic load for sufficient grip without excessive drag. The decision is tied to engine competitiveness, as a high-powered car can tolerate greater drag and aerodynamic load.

This complexity increases with hybrid engines, which offer various modes for using electrical power. In such cases, the engine itself has its own concept, requiring decisions on whether to concentrate electrical power on corner exits for better acceleration or spread it out to achieve and maintain higher top speeds. Such differences are already evident with current power units, where some manufacturers reduce hybrid power output just before braking zones—known as clipping—to use it more effectively during acceleration. For 2026, the electric power output will nearly triple, rising from 120 kW to 350 kW and accounting for 50% of the total power unit output, making conceptual choices even more crucial.

The duty cycle
The new regulations allow for power units with significantly varied characteristics, leading to differences in acceleration and straight-line power depending on the manufacturer. These compromises will shape each team's aerodynamic concepts, with power unit management influencing chassis design and vice versa. A key term will be “Duty Cycle,” the operational cycle that the engine and car follow over a lap.

"In 2026, the use of the engine and its interaction with the car is quite complex," explains Tim Goss, newly appointed Chief Technical Officer of Racing Bulls. "Optimizing energy recovery during braking and the release of electrical power isn't straightforward. It's quite challenging and varies from track to track. This impacts the car’s duty cycle and how you optimize it, which in turn influences how you extract the maximum from the power unit."

Speaking to the Italian website FormulaPassion, Haas Technical Director Andrea De Zordo agrees: "The management of the power unit will be different, opening many scenarios. The use of the electrical component will be key, and I expect it to be crucial. It will require a complete relearning process, and especially at the beginning, those who interpret it best will gain a significant advantage. A lot of time will need to be devoted to understanding it right away."

The other challenge
The connection between the aerodynamic concept and the engine isn't limited to electrical component usage but also involves integrating the power unit into the car. The impact of engine packaging on external aerodynamics isn't new and dates back to the 20th century. Ferrari fans may recall the flat engine of the 1970 312B, chosen to lower the center of gravity and create a more streamlined and aerodynamically efficient profile.

This topic gained prominence with the 2022 regulations, which cleaned up cars by removing mid-car appendages and made bodywork the primary element for shielding the underbody from turbulence, prompting more compact internal components for greater design freedom. This challenge will become even greater in 2026. As Adrian Newey noted, "The integration between the PU and the chassis will be more critical than ever. The goal is to develop an organic project."

The shorter wheelbase of the new cars, combined with larger battery packaging, complicates power unit placement. This challenge is compounded by cooling requirements. The heat generated by hybrid systems increases with the square of the current intensity. Thus, with three times the electric power, cooling needs will be nine times greater. Effective cooling improves electrical component efficiency, enhancing available energy and power but at the cost of a streamlined body. Balancing aerodynamics, heat dissipation, and power unit performance underscores the deep interconnection between engine and chassis concepts.

Risks and opportunities
The numerous variables increase the likelihood of vastly different concepts in 2026. Andrea De Zordo draws parallels with the introduction of ground-effect regulations: "Initially, there were many divergent approaches, which are now converging toward similar solutions. I wouldn't be surprised if the same happens in 2026, not necessarily purely aerodynamically but in balancing weight and energy management."

Differences may not only be aesthetic, leading to cars achieving similar performance in very different ways. This has the potential to enhance overtaking and enliven races, but excessive differences risk undermining the nature of overtaking or fragmenting the field. It will be up to the FIA to strike the right balance, leveraging the opportunities of the new regulations while preventing negative side effects.

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