F1 is stepping into the unknown with some of the biggest rule changes the sport has ever seen, with the power unit, chassis, tyres and fuel all new for 2026.
Cars are now smaller and more environmentally friendly, with engines that have a near 50-50 split between electric and internal combustion power – and use fully sustainable fuels.
However, there is concern within F1 about the degree of energy management required, and how that will affect driving styles during qualifying and races.
The drag reduction system (DRS) has been replaced with overtake mode, which gives drivers a burst of extra electric energy when they are within one second of the car ahead at a detection point, typically the final corner.
DRS no longer exists because of active aero, which allows both the rear and front wings to adjust angles on the straights to reduce drag and to increase downforce in the corners.
During the second week of pre-season testing, Ferrari turned heads with their rotating ‘upside down’ rear wing when the car’s straight-line mode was activated.
Opinions were mixed on the new cars and regulations over the six days of testing in Bahrain.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said they were “like Formula E on steroids” because of the engine’s increased demands for energy management, while seven-time title winner Lewis Hamilton commented that the new rules make F1 “ridiculously complex”, although he did say the cars were “more fun” to drive.
