Risk averted for 2026 F1 cars: performance similar to 2022 amid downforce loss
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The 2026 regulations have been a topic of extensive debate, but in the end, the FIA, the teams, and Formula 1 have managed to mitigate initial risks. Fears that lap times could slow to levels comparable to Formula 2 prompted organizers to implement adjustments, bringing aerodynamic downforce levels back in line with those of three years ago. Another positive development concerns the ease of following other cars, with the wake of the cars returning to the cleaner levels of 2022.
Between June and December, the initial 2026 draft regulations underwent numerous revisions. The most notable changes include increasing the size of the diffuser with an extended ramp and enlarging the surface area of the front wing. With these updates, the FIA and the teams were able to recover 50 points of downforce, avoiding a 40% reduction and achieving values similar to those seen in 2022, at the start of the ground-effect regulations. Mario Isola, speaking in an interview with *FormulaPassion*, confirmed this: "As of today, the high-downforce configuration projects values about 15% lower than current levels." However, Pirelli Motorsport's head clarified: "How reliable this figure is will need to be verified."
In addition to recovering aerodynamic downforce, performance will benefit from a reduction in car weight, with vehicles shedding approximately 30 kg. The decreased reliance on ground-effect aerodynamics will encourage teams to raise ride heights and soften suspensions, improving mechanical grip and agility in slower corners. Furthermore, despite challenges in sustaining the hybrid portion of the power units over extended periods, straight-line performance should remain unaffected thanks to both wings opening on straights. Lap times are therefore expected to be close to current levels, and according to Isola, performance could quickly return to today's standards: "If teams truly start 2026 with 15% less downforce than today, essentially at 2022 levels, they will recover it quickly. With such a significant regulatory change, the development curve is very steep at the start."
Another positive aspect is the improvement in the aerodynamic cleanliness of the car's wake. Although the 2022 regulations aimed to facilitate closer racing by reducing turbulence for following cars, developments over the years have gradually worsened the situation, nearly returning to 2021 levels. The 2026 cars promise to improve this aspect, as highlighted by Tim Goss, Chief Technical Officer of Racing Bulls: "In terms of wake cleanliness and ease of following, the cars will be good. We'll likely be in a better position than today, somewhat akin to how it was at the start of this technical cycle in 2022." This is partly due to the development of inwash aerodynamics, which direct turbulent air from the wheels toward the car rather than pushing it outward, as teams currently aim to do.
It remains to be seen how crucial wake cleanliness will be to on-track spectacle. The new regulations introduce additional assistance for overtaking, allowing trailing cars to use a more aggressive power unit mode, delivering nearly 70 extra horsepower from the electric component at 300 km/h, and up to 200 extra horsepower at 320 km/h. Additionally, varying energy recharge and management strategies are expected to create significant speed differences on straights between cars, raising concerns that overtaking might feel unnatural. If necessary, the Federation can intervene to preserve race dynamics, with the priority thus far being to improve expected performance levels.
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