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F1 enters new era with lighter, greener cars and expanded grid
The 2026 Formula 1 season will introduce sweeping technical changes and an 11th team, marking one of the sport's most significant transformations in decades.
Revolutionary car design and sustainable fuels
Next year's regulations mandate smaller, 30kg lighter cars with a 10cm narrower chassis. Power units will shift to a near 50-50 split between electric and internal combustion, running on fully sustainable fuels. The MGU-H energy recovery system has been removed, while hybrid power output has nearly doubled.
Aerodynamics will undergo a major overhaul, abandoning the 2022 ground-effect philosophy for movable front and rear wings to boost straight-line speed and energy harvesting. The DRS overtaking aid is replaced by a push-to-pass system providing temporary electrical power boosts.
"It's impossible to predict how this will play out. The cars feel completely different. Maybe overtaking will improve-maybe not. Rain conditions could become even more challenging with less downforce and more torque."
Lewis Hamilton
Driver lineup shifts and rookie debuts
Most drivers will return, but Red Bull Racing will field a new lineup: Max Verstappen alongside French rookie Isack Hadjar, who secured his first F1 podium in 2025. Hadjar replaces Yuki Tsunoda, whose seat at Racing Bulls goes to 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad, who finished sixth in Formula 2 this year.
Grid expands with Cadillac and Audi entries
Cadillac, backed by General Motors, will debut as F1's 11th team, pairing veteran drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez-who combine for 106 podiums. The team will use Ferrari power units for its first three seasons before switching to GM-developed engines in 2029.
Audi, meanwhile, has fully acquired Sauber, rebranding the Swiss outfit for 2026. The German manufacturer's entry coincides with the new power unit rules, with Jonathan Wheatley as team principal and former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto overseeing the project. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will drive for Audi in its inaugural season.
Red Bull's engine partnership with Honda ends, with the Japanese manufacturer becoming Aston Martin's works supplier. Renault exits engine production, forcing its Alpine team to switch to Mercedes power units.
Calendar reshuffled with new Spanish circuit
The 24-race schedule retains its March start in Australia and December finish in Abu Dhabi but introduces a second Spanish Grand Prix. The new Madrid circuit, a hybrid of public roads and private track, will host the event from September 11-13, replacing Imola's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
Barcelona's race is rebranded as the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix (June 12-14), while Canada's event moves to May 22-24 to align with the Miami Grand Prix (May 1-3). Monaco shifts to June 5-7. Six sprint races are confirmed for 2026, including Silverstone, Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Zandvoort, and Singapore.
Uncertainty looms over racing dynamics
Drivers have expressed mixed reactions to the 2026 rules, particularly the removal of the MGU-H and reliance on the internal combustion engine as a battery generator. Hamilton noted that engines may run at maximum revs in corners, creating unusual sound profiles.
With no prior precedent for simultaneous chassis and engine overhauls of this scale, teams and fans alike await the first on-track tests to gauge the impact on racing quality.
