Formula 1 2026: BBC Sport breaks down what is changing in the sport this season
F1 is stepping into the unknown with some of the biggest rule changes the sport has ever seen, with a completely renewed power unit, chassis, tires and fuel for 2026.
Cars are now smaller and more environmentally friendly; Its engines have a roughly 50-50 split between electricity and internal combustion power and use completely sustainable fuels.
However, there are concerns about the degree of energy management required in F1 and how this will affect driving styles during qualifying and races.
The drag reduction system (DRS) has been replaced by overtaking mode; This mode gives drivers an extra burst of electrical energy when they are within one second of the car in front at a detection point (typically in the final corner).
DRS is no longer available thanks to active aero, where both the rear and front wings adjust their angle on straights, reducing drag and increasing downforce in corners.
In the second week of pre-season testing, Ferrari attracted attention with its rear wing that rotated ‘upside down’ when the car’s straight-line mode was activated.
Opinions about the new cars and rules were mixed throughout the six days of testing in Bahrain.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said they were “like Formula E on steroids” due to the increased energy management demands of the engine, while seven-time championship winner Lewis Hamilton said the new rules made F1 “ridiculously complicated” but the cars were “more fun” to drive.
