Major Changes in Formula 1 for 2026, Exiting changes

Major Changes in Formula 1 for 2026, Formula 1 is getting a big update in the year 2026. There will be new cars, new teams, and even new races! Let’s learn about the major changes in Formula 1 for 2026 together.

New Cars

In 2026, the Formula 1 cars will look and feel different:

• They will be smaller and lighter, like a fast toy car.
• The cars will have big batteries that help them go faster with clean energy.
• The engines will not use normal fuel, but a new special fuel that is better for the planet.
• The wings on the car will move up and down to help the car go faster on long roads and turn better in corners.

These changes will make racing safer, cleaner, and even more exciting!

Formula 1 – 2025 Car

• Larger overall size: the car is longer and wider.

• Complex front wings: multiple visible layers with a more aggressive design.

• Bulky sidepods: large, rounded side air intakes.

• Higher car profile: the chassis line appears taller.

• More advanced aerodynamics for maximum downforce: more visible parts to channel the air.

🏎️ Formula 1 – 2026 Car

• Smaller and slimmer: refined design with a shorter car.

• Simplified front wings: thinner with fewer visible elements.

• Reduced sidepods: more compact air intakes for better drag management.

• Less visible aerodynamic surface: reflects a 55% drag reduction and 30% downforce decrease.

• Adapted for active modes (X and Z): movable elements are more discreetly integrated.

Z-mode (Cornering mode): The front and rear wings are closed, generating maximum downforce for better grip in corners.

X-mode (Straight-line mode): The flaps on the front and rear wings open to reduce drag, allowing higher top speeds on straights.

New Teams

New car companies are joining Formula 1:

• Audi will start its own team with cool new cars.
• Ford will help Red Bull build strong engines.
• Honda will make engines for the green cars of Aston Martin.
• Cadillac is coming to F1 with a brand new team! That means more cars on the track.

This means more teams, more drivers, and more fun!

New Drivers

Some drivers are changing teams. Some are staying.

• Lewis Hamilton will drive for Ferrari in 2026.
• Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are staying with McLaren.
• Carlos Sainz is moving to Williams.
• New drivers like Gabriel Bortoleto are joining for the first time.

Some drivers might move again, but we will see!

New Races

In 2026, some races will change:

• A brand new race will happen in Madrid, Spain.
• The race in Barcelona will stop.
• The first race of the year will be in Australia.
• Races in Mexico, China, and Italy will stay for many years.

We will see some new places and say goodbye to others.

Better for the Planet

Formula 1 wants to help the Earth.

• In 2026, the cars will use 100% clean fuel.
• The teams will use less pollution when they travel.
• The goal is to have zero pollution by 2030.

That means F1 will be fast and green at the same time!

New Rules and Money

Formula 1 is making new rules:

• Teams can spend more money in 2026, because new cars are expensive.
• All teams signed a new deal to stay in F1 from 2026 to 2030.
• There will be 24 races in one year.

That’s a lot of racing to enjoy!

Summary

Here are the Major Changes in Formula 1 for 2026:

Technical Regulation Changes

• Power units (engines): The 2026 rules radically change the hybrid powertrain. The internal combustion engine (ICE) will produce roughly 400 kW (down from ~550 kW now) and is smaller/lighter, while the electrical system is massively strengthened. The Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU‑K) can now deploy up to 350 kW and will allow roughly 9 MJ of electric energy use per lap, more than double today’s ~4 MJ. The long-used MGU‑H (heat/ turbo) is eliminated. The rules deliberately shift performance into the electric domain: more energy from braking is recovered and redeployed, and a new “MGU‑K Override” is permitted when a following car is within 1 second (giving up to ~0.5 MJ extra boost up to ~337 kph). Crucially, 100% sustainable “drop-in” fuel will be used – F1 has worked with Aramco on an e‑fuel that is carbon‑neutral (and even trialled it up to 55% blend in F2/F3).
• Chassis and aerodynamics: The cars will be smaller, lighter and more agile. Overall dimensions shrink by about 100–200 mm (wheelbase 3.4m, width 1.90m, floor width 1.55m) and minimum weight drops ~30 kg (car without fuel ~722 kg vs 736 kg). Designed for closer racing, total downforce will be ~30% lower and drag ~55% lower than today’s cars. A radical active-aero system is added: both the front and rear wings have movable flaps. In “Z‑mode” (cornering) the flaps open to increase cornering speed, whereas drivers can trigger “X‑mode” on long straights (straight-line) to flatten the wings for low drag (expected to be allowed on any straight of >3 seconds). The front wing is narrowed (100 mm smaller) and still two-element; the rear wing runs three elements (losing the old beam wing element). Other aero changes include no front wheel arches (with special wheel-body panels mandated) and “in-wash” wheel wake control fences on the sidepods. The floor is only partly flat and the diffuser is smaller, intentionally reducing ground‑effect grip (to ease porpoising issues)
• Chassis safety: The 2026 car also has improved safety structures. A revised two-stage front impact structure is mandated to prevent the old problem of it breaking off in crashes. Side-impact (cockpit) protection is increased (including a >2× stronger shell around the fuel cell) The roll hoop must withstand 20g (up from 16g) and test loads are raised accordingly In an innovation for emergencies, lateral safety lights will indicate the ERS (battery) status of a stopped car to marshals.

Team Entries, Exits and Ownership

• New manufacturers and partnerships: The 2026 season will see significant factory involvement changes. The Audi/Sauber deal is confirmed: Audi (Volkswagen Group) will take majority control of the Sauber team, rebranding it as the Audi works team by 2026. Red Bull is moving from Honda engines to its own Red Bull Powertrains unit, partnering with Ford as a technical engine supplier (Ford re‑enters F1 after 20+ years). Honda – which had only been supporting Red Bull – will return as a manufacturer supplying Aston Martin exclusively, making Aston a quasi-factory team. The former Minardi/AlphaTauri squad is being rebranded in line with Red Bull, but retains its Red Bull-affiliated structure (it has already become the “Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team” for 2024–25).
• New team entry: In a major change, General Motors’ Cadillac brand (with promoter TWG Motorsports) has secured an official entry as F1’s 11th team from 2026. Cadillac was formally approved by the FIA/FOM in March 2025 to join the grid in 2026, reflecting F1’s push into new markets. (The Cadillac project arose from the Andretti/GM bid that was modified into a standalone Cadillac F1 Team.)
• No exits: No existing team is known to be leaving; instead the grid expands. However, Sauber/Alfa Romeo’s existing entry effectively converts to Audi, and the Circuit de Barcelona outlet for Alfa (sponsor) ends with the team’s takeover. All incumbent teams have agreed the new Concorde commercial deal, so no team is boycotting or departing for now.

Driver Line-Up Changes

• Confirmed signings: Many driver contracts have been extended to cover 2026. Notably, McLaren kept its championship-winning pairing, with Lando Norris signed “beyond 2025” and Oscar Piastri under multi-year deals through 2026 At Ferrari, Charles Leclerc signed a new multi-year deal (into the new era) and Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari on a two-year contract (2025–2026) Pierre Gasly extended at Alpine (“multi-year” through 2026). Haas’s 2025 recruitment of Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon was also locked in for 2026. Williams announced Alex Albon to a new multi-year deal and signed Carlos Sainz Jr. to a two-year contract (2025–2026). The Audi/Sauber team has announced Nico Hülkenberg and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto as its 2026 drivers, (multi-year for both).
• Vacant and incoming seats: That leaves seats at a few teams open. Red Bull Racing’s second seat is unannounced after Sergio Pérez’s departure (Max Verstappen is locked until 2028). Mercedes in 2025 runs George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli, but neither is yet confirmed past 2025. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both have deals beyond 2025, but as a works Honda partner the team may field any top Honda drivers in future. Alpine’s second cockpit (after Gasly) is vacant (Jack Doohan holds it for 2025 only). The new Cadillac team has two empty seats for 2026.
• Rumored moves: Motorsport media report several high-profile possibilities. There is talk Verstappen might jump to Aston Martin in 2026 (reuniting with designer Adrian Newey). George Russell is in the final year of his Mercedes deal and has been linked to a big-money move to the Cadillac entry (some speculation also names Lewis Hamilton in that mix). Fernando Alonso’s name has been floated in Red Bull discussions (“could he tick off another team”), which in turn raises questions who would partner Verstappen. Likewise, rumors suggest an experienced hand like Sergio Pérez might anchor Cadillac, possibly paired with an American star such as IndyCar’s Colton Herta. Japanese drivers (e.g. Yuki Tsunoda) and other ex-F1 drivers (Newgarden, Pagenaud) have also been mentioned in speculative lists. (These rumors are unconfirmed but widely reported in motorsport media.)

Race Calendar Updates

• New and returning venues: A brand-new street circuit in Madrid – officially called “Madring” – has been announced to host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026. This replaces the long-time Spanish GP at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya (whose contract expires after 2025). The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne (Albert Park) will again open the 2026 season in March (March 6–8); Australia’s contract was extended through 2037, guaranteeing it hosts a number of season openers.
• Dropped or ending races: It is confirmed that the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will run for the last time in 2026 (after a one-year extension). Monza’s Italian GP has been secured long-term (to 2031), but the Emilia-Romagna GP at Imola only has a deal through 2025 and may not continue. Overall, F1 plans a maximum 24-event calendar in 2026; with Madrid added, one existing round (Barcelona) had to be dropped.
• Contract extensions: Several current races were renewed. The Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai) signed a deal to stay on the calendar to at least 2030. The Mexico City Grand Prix extended its contract through 2028. Other deals (e.g. Qatar’s Las Vegas) are already agreed through the late 2020s. In summary, the 2026 schedule will see most established races retained, plus the new Madrid street GP, minus Barcelona (and post-2026 Zandvoort).

Sustainability and Environmental Goals

• 100% Sustainable Fuel: F1’s 2026 power units will run on 100% drop-in sustainable e‑fuelformula1.com. This fuel is chemically equivalent to today’s petrol but produced in a carbon‑neutral way, closing the carbon cycle. F1 and the FIA have been developing this with Aramco and will introduce the fuel in line with the new engine rulesformula1.com. (As a step towards this, the support series F2 and F3 are already using a 55% sustainable fuel blend and testing E10 fuel this yearcorp.formula1.comformula1.com.)
• Net-zero by 2030: Formula 1’s official sustainability strategy is “Net-Zero Carbon by 2030”corp.formula1.com. This covers all emissions from the cars (“factory to flag”) and related operations. In practice, F1 is driving reductions via new fuel, but also through operations (e.g. using 100% renewable energy in offices, optimizing logistics and freight, shifting broadcasts off-site, carbon-neutral event guidance)corp.formula1.comcorp.formula1.com. The 2030 target is supported by promoters, teams, and sponsors alike. In essence, F1 in 2026 will pioneer fully-sustainable fuel technology and continue cutting carbon across the sport.
• Other green initiatives: While not regulations, F1 is also expanding Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for team and freight flights and requiring promoters to follow best practices (recycling, solar power, etc.). By 2026 the championship aims to have its flights, paddock operations and broadcasts considerably greener, complementing the new power units’ lower carbon footprint.

Governance, Commercial and Other Changes

• Concorde Agreement: In March 2025 F1 announced that all teams have signed the new 2026–2030 Concorde Agreementreuters.com. This is the commercial contract that governs revenue sharing and the teams’ long-term commitment. The new Concorde Agreement (slated to run to 2030) formalizes the revised financial structure and exit conditions for this era. (A separate “governance” concorde between the FIA and F1 is still to be finalized.)
• Budget cap and finances: The cost cap will increase substantially for 2026. The FIA confirmed the cap goes from $135M to $215M in 2026motorsport.com. This jump accommodates new items in the budget rules (e.g. powertrain development, vehicle testing, etc.) required by the new technical regulations. Crucially, the 2026 financial rules also introduce a special salary offset for high‑wage countries: teams based in expensive countries (like Sauber/Audi in Switzerland) will get extra cap allowance per staff to offset higher living costsmotorsport.com.
• Leadership and administration: F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s contract was extended to the end of 2029reuters.com, ensuring stability at the top through the new regulations. The FIA President remains Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and the FIA Single-Seater Commission will oversee the transition. No major rule-makers have changed midstream, but all sporting and technical regulations for 2026 were approved by the FIA.
• Sporting rules: (While not asked explicitly, it is worth noting that the sprint race format and points structure remain largely as in 2023–25; no new sprint-related changes are planned.) The Super Licence criteria are under review (to broaden the path for road-lease drivers like Herta), and any minor rule clarifications (e.g. DRS use in X-mode zones, wheel nut changes, etc.) are being worked out by the FIA.

In summary, 2026 will be a landmark season. Technically it introduces new energy recovery systems and active aerodynamics to aid racing, while also moving to fully renewable fuels. Commercially it expands the grid and rebalance manufacturer involvement (Audi, Ford, Honda, GM all engaged) under a new Concorde deal. The calendar adds a major city race in Madrid and solidifies global venues. Together with the net-zero sustainability drive, these changes mark a new era for Formula 1

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