The FIA adjusts technical regulations for 2026: improved aero and more testing
During the FIA Commission held this Wednesday in Faenza, the issue of sporting and technical regulations was also addressed. Several changes were announced and they should come into effect at the next meeting on October 17th.
After announcing the postponement of the sprint race for beginner drivers, which will therefore not take place this season, the FIA also continues to refine the technical regulations for 2026, which teams will be able to start familiarizing themselves with their staff as of January 2025, in just a few months.
During the meeting organized at the headquarters of Racing Bulls in Faenza, the FIA, with the presence of the FOM and representatives of each team, wanted to discuss the upcoming technical regulations of 2026 and to start proposing some initiatives. A way to address the concerns raised by some drivers when the first draft of the regulations was unveiled during the Canadian Grand Prix. George Russell had particularly alerted the authorities to the safety risks posed by the increased top speed of future single-seaters due to a 55% reduction in drag and a 30% reduction in aerodynamic downforce.
Increased aerodynamics for improved safety.
From now on, this Wednesday, the governing body of Formula 1 announced that it has made certain modifications to the technical regulations, notably increasing the aerodynamic performance of the cars for 2026 compared to what was initially planned, without revealing more details at this time. The postponed 2026 regulations have not yet been published by the federation.
« Following discussions during the recent meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee and ongoing exchanges with the F1 teams, a number of modifications to the 2026 Technical Regulations in the areas of performance, aerodynamics, and safety have been included in the latest version of these regulations, the statement said. « This includes an increase in the expected aerodynamic performance of the cars, following close collaboration between the teams and the FIA in recent months. »
A major but necessary revision of the regulations in response to the criticism it faced from drivers and team principals who were concerned about the configuration of the 2026 cars, expected to be too slow in corners but much too fast on the straights.
Nine days of pre-season testing in 2026
At the same time, the FIA also approved the sporting and financial regulations for 2026. Among the confirmed proposals is the one regarding the pre-season testing days. Compared to previous years, this number has been significantly increased, as all teams will be entitled to three series of three-day tests, totaling nine days before the start of the season, to get used to the new regulations, especially in terms of power units. A blessing for some teams, such as Red Bull and the future Audi team, who will be new engine manufacturers in 2026 and therefore will take time to adapt.
« The 2026 Sporting Regulations have undergone a significant revision to simplify their structure, states the press release. « In essence, the 2026 pre-season testing schedule will include three three-day tests, in recognition of the challenges posed by the new power unit regulations. The 2026 Financial Regulations will be an evolution of the current regulatory framework. The goals of the 2026 regulations are to find a competitive balance between sporting equity and financial sustainability. »
A meeting to finalize these discussions on October 17th
Nevertheless, these proposals still need to be approved by the World Motor Sport Council, which has planned a meeting on October 17th and will have to validate or not these changes on this occasion. While the 2024 season is not yet over, the world of Formula 1 is already preparing for 2026, a year that will pose many challenges and should, as is often the case with a new set of rules, shuffle the deck between each team.
