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The world of Formula 1 has revealed the new terminology that will be used to reference the advanced features of its upcoming 2026 technical rules.

The championship is embarking on what is considered the biggest regulation change in its illustrious history for the 2026 campaign, featuring new chassis and engine rules and the compulsory introduction of 100% sustainable fuels.

The revised engines, which maintain the 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid, boast a substantially higher electrical capacity, requiring significant developments in the cars' aerodynamics.

Over a race distance, competitors will carefully oversee battery power – including during hot laps – to achieve the best result.

Broad surveys were undertaken with a diverse audience, including dedicated enthusiasts and casual observers, to identify which terminology would make things clearer of the main elements of the 2026 changes.

The stated goal was to make a range of advanced new areas of the competition as easy to grasp as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, older technical labels for certain devices – such as "x-mode and z-mode" for the adjustable aero – have been discarded in preference for intuitive labels that directly explain the primary purpose of the technology.

Key Technical Innovations

The FIA states that competitors will have greater control to make decisions regarding battery management, energy recovery, and saving energy.

The upcoming changes feature a series of modes that will be clearly indicated on TV overlays to enhance the fans' insight of the strategic duel.

• Passing Mode: This replaces the present overtaking aid. It provides a burst of extra electrical energy available when a driver is close behind the car ahead to facilitate an overtaking maneuver.
• Power Mode: This is a manual battery discharge from the hybrid system that can be deployed for attack or defence. It delivers the driver maximum power at the activation of a control.

Both of these crucial modes will have to be used with calculation, as the overall battery capacity is strictly limited.

• Active Aerodynamics: Both the nose and rear wings adjust their angles – flattening on the straights for reduced drag and higher speed, and closing in the turns for maximum downforce.
• Energy Harvesting: Drivers can harvest energy with power recovered from braking, or during throttle lift at the conclusion of a straight or in corners where only limited engine output is used.

2026 Car Specifications

The vehicles for the new era will be reduced in size and weight relative to current models, with a car length reduced by 200mm to 3,400mm, overall width cut by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the car weight decreased by 30kg.

Total aerodynamic grip is anticipated to be reduced by approximately a significant margin, although constructors will inevitably claw this back as they optimize their packages.

Aerodynamic drag has been reduced by 40%. The vehicles will utilize adjustable aero systems – front and rear wings will move on the straights to improve speed and enhance velocity and click back into place for optimal grip in corners.

Tyres will keep 18-inch rims, but the actual tyres will be reduced in width, by 25 millimetres on the front axle and 30mm at the rear.

2026 Engine Regulations

The 2026 engines will have an roughly half-and-half distribution in power produced by the internal combustion engine and the electrical system, up from about one-fifth electric power under present rules.

The hybrid system is made less complex through the removal of the complex turbo energy recovery device, the complicated and costly device that generated electricity from the turbo.

All vehicles will be obliged to compete on 100% sustainable fuel, created from biomass or synthetic production methods.