If you ask some F1 fans what they want the cars of the new regulation to be like in 2026, most of them will say that the priority is to reduce their size and make them more agile to improve the spectacle and increase the battles on the trail. And surprisingly, that is one of the points that the FIA seeks to achieve in new Formula 1 rules from 2026. And yes, the chassis regulation unveiled Thursday reduces the size and weight of F1 cars, but less than fans and specialists would like. They are lacking.
total, The minimum weight of the car has been reduced by 30 kg, which is currently 798 kg (908 with driver and full of fuel). And immediately, the question arises: is this reduction enough? In 2005, for example, a time when there were more battles on the track, the weight of the car was about 605 (including the pilot).
And the measurements? 10 centimeters in diameter is reduced. It ranges from 2 meters to 1.9. And the wheelbase has been reduced by 20 centimeters, from 3.6 meters to 3.4 meters. The Current vehicles measure 5.6 meters in length with a wheelbase of 3.6. So reducing it to 3.4 already indicates that things will not change much. Without further ado, the length of F1 was 4.8 meters in total in 2014. Or 4.6 in 2005 and about 4.3 meters in 1995. The F1 of 2026 will still be a long way from what the public wants. But everything has an explanation.
Cars have grown over the years as safety measures around the driver have improved. and not only that, also because of the need to store fuel as refueling is prohibited for safety reasons. In addition, machines in the hybrid era have grown significantly in the creation of power units with several elements. In 2026, the engines will continue to be hybrids and only one of the current elements will be removed, the MGU-h (turbo heat energy generator). That creates an important complication for the FIA to reduce the cars. And it is clear from this regulation that, in this sense, it continues to cause doubts.
What will the magic attack button look like?
The FIA decided to remove DRS from 2026 cars, an element introduced to increase overtaking. Now, they want to promote overtaking with a button that can be activated by drivers (It is not yet known if it is when they are a second away from the car in front).
How does this button work? It is important to know that in 2026 machines are intended that half of the energy will be electric. So, according to ‘Motorsport’, This button will allow you to use more electrical energy for a longer period of time, reaching 350 kW up to 337 km/h. An LED light can be placed on the vehicles to easily indicate that the pilot is activating that magic button or attack mode. The doubt is whether this mode allows overtaking very easily, even more so than the current DRS, something that will increase the number of ‘passes’, but perhaps not the excitement.
This will be active aerodynamics: moving ailerons
As we have indicated, in F1 in 2026 there will be no DRS, the current system where the driver can place his rear wing horizontally to reduce drag and thus increase his speed in a straight line. Currently, DRS is activated on straights permitted by the FIA at each circuit and if you are less than 1 second behind the car in front. While in 2026 the movement of the ailerons will be constant.
In 2026 a more complex system will be implemented and it is necessary to see if it causes more reliability problems for the equipment. It is a system of continuous movement of the rear and front wings. All cars will have two actuation modes for their front and rear wings: ‘Z’ mode and ‘X’ mode. ‘Z’ Mode is the standard position for both wings, to generate downforce in corners. And ‘X’ mode has the rear and front wings deployed, without offering air resistance, so the car is faster in a straight line.
When a pilot activates x mode, the front and rear wings will move at the same time to stop drag. They will work together to prevent the vehicle’s balance from becoming unstable. Unlike DRS, you don’t need to be a second away from the car in front to deploy the wings: drivers will be able to activate the ailerons’ ‘X’ mode throughout the race in permitted areas .
Will they be faster cars?
Doubts are huge in relation to new cars. They will not see their size and weight reduced significantly. Its aerodynamics will be more complicated due to the movement of the wings. And the engine, with more electrical power, remains a mystery. In the paddock there were many doubts about the speed of the cars and some even believed that the F2s would be dangerously close to the lap times.
F1 is the top category and will see its current pace reduced, but that does not mean less spectacle. In the eyes of the viewer, a few seconds less or more does not mean more or less ‘show’. If the cars are slower but there is more overtaking and more fights, the show is bigger. That’s what F1 is after. You can do it?
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
