Nikolas Tombazis, the director overseeing single-seater matters at the FIA, anticipates that the revamped Formula 1 regulations slated for 2026 will culminate in “more thrilling contests” as a direct result of the diverse modifications the sport’s governing body is implementing on the vehicles.
The year 2026 will witness F1’s transition to automobiles that are both lighter and more compact, featuring a heightened electrical component within their hybrid power units. Furthermore, the initiative will embrace the utilization of sustainable fuels and employ active aerodynamic systems.
The latter entails the ability to open both the front and rear wings while traversing straight sections of the track, thereby rendering the present Drag Reduction System (DRS) mechanism superfluous. Consequently, competing cars positioned behind will gain the capacity to attain an augmented velocity advantage over their pursued adversaries through an electric energy surge, referred to as manual override mode.
Even with the possibility of substantial variations among teams during the initial phase due to the novel technical specifications governing both the power unit and chassis aspects, Tombazis conveys optimism that the updated regulatory framework will yield a more captivating spectacle.
“It’s evident that the introduction of fresh regulations typically results in a marginally broader distribution across the grid in the beginning. However, we anticipate that, from an aerodynamic perspective, vehicles will possess the capability to maintain closer proximity to one another compared to the current scenario,” he stated.
“The attributes of the wake have undergone significant enhancements, and we firmly believe that we’ve gleaned valuable insights from the 2022 vehicles, which we’re now incorporating into this year’s aerodynamic regulations.”
“The shift from employing DRS to utilizing energy as a means of facilitating overtaking is poised to alter the overall landscape and introduce heightened unpredictability. When coupled with the revised aerodynamic configurations, I am of the opinion that the racing action will ultimately become more enthralling.”
Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Single Seater Director
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Tombazis posits that the disparity in contrast to the present-day vehicles will be particularly pronounced, given the significant recovery in downforce achieved by all teams since the implementation of the 2022 regulations. During this interval, the consequence of turbulent air has progressively intensified as well.
“To initiate, allow me to assert that the 2022 vehicles commenced with a notable enhancement in their wake characteristics. While I cannot recall the precise figures, the reduction in downforce at a distance of 20 meters trailed by approximately 50% for the preceding generation of vehicles, transitioning to roughly 80 or 85% upon the initial introduction of the 2022 vehicles. Subsequently, this value gradually diminished over the regulatory cycle, arriving at its current state, which I also cannot definitively ascertain – although it is probable that we are now referring to a figure closer to 70%.”
“This serves as the rationale behind the observed challenges encountered by vehicles in maintaining proximity to one another currently, in contrast to the situation in 2022, notwithstanding an improvement relative to 2021. Our anticipation is that the commencement of the forthcoming cycle will reflect a value approximating 90% or thereabouts. Consequently, our conviction is that the forthcoming environment will surpass any previous iterations.”
Another aspect capable of inducing variability among teams and drivers encompasses not solely the distinct engine hardware, but also the methodologies employed in operating each power unit and overseeing energy distribution. Prevailing consensus suggests that even two power units exhibiting identical specifications may manifest performance differentials on the order of several tenths of a second per lap, attributable exclusively to the driver’s approach to energy deployment.
“Should a driver opt for a divergent energy deployment strategy, and should inefficiencies arise in their utilization throughout the lap, the execution of an overtaking maneuver becomes eminently practicable or attainable,” articulated Paul Monaghan, the chief engineer at Red Bull.
“Therefore, I anticipate that the dispersion in vehicle usage and performance could potentially exceed the levels currently observed. Consequently, the nature of racing will undergo a transformation, potentially characterized by reduced proximity compared to the present circumstances – although this remains speculative. Furthermore, the inherent uncertainties associated with entirely novel vehicles, electronic systems, and the capacity to complete races introduce further ambiguity. This juncture remains inherently unpredictable.”
