F1 2026 regulations explained: new engines, active aero and teams

Formula 1 started a new era in 2026, with new chassis and power unit rules arriving at the same time. The cars are shorter, narrower and lighter, roughly half of their power now comes from electricity, the wings change shape on the straights and DRS is gone. The grid has also grown to 11 teams and 22 cars. Here is what changed and why it matters when you watch a race.

What changed in F1 in 2026?

• Power units: the same 1.6-litre V6 turbo, but with the MGU-H removed, a far stronger electric motor and sustainable fuel
• Active aerodynamics: movable front and rear wing flaps, with a low-drag Straight Mode and a high-grip Corner Mode
• Overtake mode: an extra burst of electrical energy for a car close behind another, replacing DRS
• Smaller, lighter cars: a shorter wheelbase, narrower bodywork and tyres, and a lower minimum weight
• A bigger grid: Cadillac joined as the 11th team, and Audi took over Sauber as a full works team

How do the new 2026 F1 engines work?

The 2026 power unit keeps a 1.6-litre turbocharged V6, but the hybrid system around it has changed. The MGU-H, which recovered energy from the turbocharger, has been removed. The MGU-K, the electric motor connected to the drivetrain, now delivers up to 350 kW, up from 120 kW. The FIA put the combustion engine at around 400 kW, so power is split roughly 50/50 between fuel and electricity, compared with about 20% electric before.

All of that electrical energy has to be harvested during the lap: under braking, on part throttle, when the driver lifts off, and through “super clipping”, where some energy is recovered at the end of a straight even with the throttle fully open. Most of this is handled automatically by the car’s electronics. The engines also run on advanced sustainable fuel, which the FIA describes as 100% sustainable and made from sources such as carbon capture, municipal waste and non-food biomass.

Who supplies F1 engines in 2026?

Five manufacturers build power units in 2026:

• Mercedes: Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Alpine
• Ferrari: Ferrari, Haas and Cadillac
• Red Bull Ford: Red Bull and Racing Bulls
• Honda: Aston Martin
• Audi: Audi

What is active aerodynamics in F1?

Active aero means parts of the front and rear wings move during the lap. In Corner Mode the flaps are closed for maximum downforce and grip. In Straight Mode they open to cut drag and raise top speed. The FIA sets activation zones for each circuit, and every driver can use Straight Mode in them, not just a car that is chasing another. In low-grip conditions such as rain, only partial activation is allowed.

When it unveiled the rules in 2024, the FIA targeted around 30% less downforce and 55% less drag than the previous generation. The ground-effect tunnels of the 2022–2025 cars have also given way to a partially flat floor, and the front wing is simpler.

What replaced DRS in F1?

DRS, the opening rear wing flap that only a chasing car could use, no longer exists. Its role is taken by Overtake mode. If a driver is within a set gap of the car ahead at the detection point, typically one second, they get Overtake mode for the following lap. It allows an extra 0.5 MJ of energy recharge and a more powerful electrical deployment profile, letting the attacking car use more electric power at high speed.

Drivers also have a Boost button that lets them take manual control of energy deployment to attack or defend, either all at once or spread across the lap. Because energy spent in one place is not available elsewhere, deciding when to use it has become a big part of racecraft.

How big are the 2026 F1 cars?

• Maximum wheelbase: 3.4 m, down 200 mm
• Maximum width: 1.9 m, down 100 mm
• Minimum weight: 768 kg including the driver but not fuel, down from 800 kg
• Tyres: still on 18-inch wheels, but 25 mm narrower at the front and 30 mm narrower at the rear

Safety rules were tightened too. The nose now has a two-stage crash structure designed to stay in place for a second impact, side intrusion protection has been increased, and the roll hoop must withstand higher loads.

Who are the new teams in F1 in 2026?

Cadillac is the first new team since Haas joined in 2016. Backed by General Motors, it runs Ferrari power units for now, with GM planning its own engine later. Audi is not a brand-new entry but has taken over Sauber and now races as a works team with its own power unit. Honda has returned as Aston Martin’s works partner, and Ford has joined Red Bull to build the Red Bull Ford engine. You can compare all 11 line-ups on the F1 teams page.

Did the 2026 rules change race weekends?

With 22 cars on the grid, six drivers instead of five are now knocked out in each of the first two parts of qualifying. The points system is unchanged, so a Grand Prix win is still worth 25 points; how the F1 points system works has the full breakdown, and the 2026 F1 season overview shows how each round of the new era has played out.