The FIA clarifies the development bans for 2026 F1 before 2025: targeted aerodynamics
Formula 1 teams have been banned from starting work on their new cars for the 2026 Formula 1 season for over a year. Several other rules have been modified for the upcoming seasons.
Following an agreement during a recent F1 Commission meeting, teams are not allowed to undertake wind tunnel or CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) work for the new specific cars before January 1st, 2025, reflecting a similar arrangement that was made before the last major rule change in 2022.
The future technical regulation is not finalized, but teams already have a good idea of the direction that will be taken. Unusually, the 2023 sporting regulation was modified after the end of the World Championship itself, in order to impose the ban on ATRs from December 1 to 31, 2026, while the same modifications were made to the 2024 regulations.
No F1 aerodynamics testing before 2025
In order to limit the extent of the advantage that a team is able to gain on their 2026 designs, the FIA has imposed new restrictions that will allow teams to start working on these designs only the year before their introduction.
The sporting regulations for the next two years now state: « In order to prevent development testing for the 2026 season, from 12/01/2023 to 1/1/2025 inclusive, RWTT (Restricted Wind Tunnel Testing) can only be conducted using a substantially compliant scale model based on the F1 technical regulations for 2023, 2024, or 2025 ».
« With the exception of dynamometer testing aimed at developing braking system components with minimal air ducts, and provided that these tests do not simultaneously test (or in any way provide accidental data or knowledge on) the performance or endurance of classified body parts or systems, none of the wind tunnel tests may be carried out using a partially or fully conforming geometry of a car and/or substantially derived from the published projects and/or versions of the F1 2026 technical regulations or the bodywork geometries and concepts proposed by the FIA for 2026 ».
Other rules added, modified, and deleted
A similar provision also prohibits any CFD simulation for 2026 until January 1st, 2025, inclusively. Teams are still allowed to carry out preliminary R&D work for 2026, which is not subject to the aerodynamic testing restrictions.
As part of a subtle change to the post-qualifying technical checks, the FIA will now select specific cars « for additional inspections, rather than « at least three », as was previously the case.
The FIA has also removed all references to closed-door Grand Prix events, which were a legacy of the COVID era, when races were held without spectators and personnel restrictions were imposed.
