Lighter cars, electric power: Everything you need to know about the 2026 F1 season

The 2026 Formula One season will usher in a new era for the sport, defined by the most comprehensive regulation overhaul since the turbo-hybrid rules reshaped the grid in 2014.

With new power units, radically altered aerodynamics, an expanded grid of 11 teams and a full 24-race calendar, Formula One enters a period of reset that could dramatically reshuffle the competitive order.

A clear break from the 2025 formula

Compared to the 2025 season, the 2026 regulations represent a fundamental shift in philosophy. While the 2025 cars remain heavy, aerodynamically complex ground-effect machines powered by V6 turbo-hybrids dominated by internal combustion, the new generation is designed to be lighter, simpler and more electrically driven.

The most striking change is to the power units. In 2025, the internal combustion engine remains the dominant contributor to performance, with the electrical system playing a supporting role. From 2026, power delivery will be split almost evenly between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. Electrical output will increase significantly, while the complex MGU-H system used in 2025 is removed entirely, reducing cost and technical barriers for new manufacturers.

Sustainable fuels will continue from 2025 into 2026, but the new engines are designed specifically around these fuels rather than adapting existing concepts. The result is a power unit that is cheaper, greener and more road-relevant, a key reason behind the influx of new manufacturers.

Smaller, lighter and more adaptable cars

The cars themselves will look and behave very differently to those raced in 2025. Current cars are among the heaviest in Formula One history, largely due to safety requirements and hybrid systems. For 2026, the minimum weight has been reduced and overall dimensions have been trimmed, making cars shorter and narrower.

Aerodynamics undergo a major rethink. The complex winglets, bargeboards and intricate floor designs that dominate the 2025 grid are replaced by simpler surfaces intended to reduce dirty air. Ground-effect remains, but with less extreme downforce levels to improve close racing.

Perhaps the most controversial change is the removal of the Drag Reduction System. DRS, a staple of overtaking in the 2025 season, is replaced by active aerodynamics. Drivers will be able to switch between low-drag and high-downforce modes at certain points on the lap, combined with electrical power deployment to assist overtaking. The goal is to make passing more natural and less artificial than DRS zones.

Eleven teams and a landmark debut

The regulatory reset has achieved one of its primary aims: attracting new manufacturers. Audi will make its first-ever Formula One appearance in 2026, taking over Sauber and entering as a full works team. It marks the first time in modern F1 history that the grid expands to 11 teams, with Cadillac also joining the championship.

Audi’s arrival, alongside Red Bull’s Ford partnership and Aston Martin’s switch to Honda power, underscores how different the 2026 landscape is from 2025, where manufacturer diversity was more limited.

Team principals and leadership stability

While the technology changes, leadership continuity remains important. Toto Wolff continues at Mercedes, Laurent Mekies leads Red Bull into the new era, and Andrea Stella remains in charge at McLaren. Ferrari stay under Frédéric Vasseur, while Aston Martin enters a new phase with Adrian Newey in a senior leadership role.

Audi appoint Jonathan Wheatley as team principal, tasked with guiding the marque through its first season in Formula One, while Cadillac is led by Graeme Lowdon.

Driver line-ups reflect the shift in philosophy from 2025 to 2026. Teams are placing greater emphasis on youth and long-term potential ahead of the regulation reset. Red Bull retain Max Verstappen but promote Isack Hadjar, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. Mercedes commit to George Russell alongside teenage talent Kimi Antonelli. Liam Lawson remains at Racing Bulls and will be joined by rookie Arvid Lindblad, who makes his F1 debut.

McLaren keep Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Ferrari continue with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and Aston Martin retain Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Audi fields Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, while Cadillac opts for experience with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon continue with Williams, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto will drive for Alpine, while Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman drive for Haas.

A familiar yet evolving calendar

The 2026 calendar features 24 races, unchanged in number from 2025 but with a notable addition. Madrid replaces Barcelona as Spain’s main Grand Prix, joining established venues such as Silverstone, Suzuka, Monza, Monaco and Melbourne. The season once again concludes in Abu Dhabi.

History shows that major regulation changes often upset the balance of power in Formula One, as Mercedes’ dominance following the 2014 overhaul proved.

With lighter cars, radically different power units and more teams than ever before, the 2026 season stands as a genuine turning point. Unlike 2025, where performance trends are well established, 2026 offers a rare sense of unpredictability, making it one of the most anticipated seasons in modern F1 history.