Although behind Closed Doors…
Testing
Jan 26-30: Private test at Circuit de Barcelona
Feb 11-13: First “Open” Test at Bahrain
International Circuit
Feb 18-20: Bahrain Final Test
2026 Formula 1 Pre-season testing has begun this week in earnest, with the commencing of a five-day private test for all 11 F1 Teams at Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya. With teams permitted to run any three days of the five.
Whilst I don’t know how much information we’ll receive, or how much results will truly resonate with the season kicking off Down Under at Melbourne on March 8th.
Thus, following the conclusion of the 2025 Abu Dhabi
Grand Prix, I immediately began wondering about the intricacies of the much
ballyhooed 2026 F1 regulation changes, before I settled in for my long winter’s
nap…
Each team was allowed to run one “Mule” chassis
with a lead driver at the post Abu Dhabi Young Drivers test, along with the
requisite “Youngster” driving the 2025 chassis, held on Tuesday, December 9th.
Although several teams split the day between
their current two drivers aboard the 2026 Mule chassis.
While I knew that the chassis would be smaller,
lighter and “nimbler”. With increased electrification and smaller Pirelli
tyres.
Erroneously, multiple websites reported that wheels
rim sizes would “shrink” from 18-inches down to 16-inch diameter, Say What?
As let’s delve into these “Lean, Mean, Fighting
Machines”…
First off, the wheel rim size will continue to
be 18 inches with reduced size, “Skinnier” revised Pirelli compound range
rubber, designed to give bigger compound separation.
F1
2025 Post Abu Dhabi test: Pirelli’s first major run with 2026 tyres
The new Power Units or PU’s will still utilize
the existing 1.6-litre single turbocharger configuration introduced in 2014.
But the Internal Combustion Engine )ICE) will be “Detuned” from a maximum
850bhp to 540bhp, running on 100% sustainable Fuel.
But it’s the electrical energy side that gets
“Charged” up! As the Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H) is deleted entirely,
while the Motor Generator Unit – kinetic
(MGU-K)
increases significantly. With the MGU-K’s power increasing to 470bhp from
150bhp, tripling power-wise. With a total power output o 1,010bhp on tap.
According to Formula1.com, the chassis
wheelbase length shrinks by 200mm to 3400mm, the size of your reusable “Drinks”
bottle. Width reduces 100mm to 1900mm, the size of a chocolate bar, albeit
Arse-sumedly these are European sizes. So don’t know how they differ Stateside?
Minimum chassis weight decreases by 30kg to 768kg,
along with new moveable front/rear aerodynamics. Most notably the removal of
the DRS. (Drag Reduction System)
Yet what I found most frustrating was the lack
of current information preceding the first official closed door test. Since as
of Boxing Day, (Dec 26th) everything I could find was from June, 2024, WTF!
Since along with the racecar’s smaller size,
the biggest change occurs with the new Active Aerodynamics, which feature
moveable front and rear wings. Which I don’t know if we’ll still be using the
initial “Z-mode”, or Zed mode )Zulu) cornering high Downforce, wings closed
configuration. And “X-mode” (X-Ray) straight-line low Drag wings opened
configuration designations during racing this season? As both front and rear
wings are dramatically different.
Z-mode
and X-mode Active Aerodynamics explained
While more importantly, the full Ground Effects
era is discontinued. With a partial flat floor section returning. With a larger
diffuser with larger openings, and a overall higher minimum ride height
mandated. Which should hopefully cure the undesired and dreadful porpoising
effects we’ve previously encountered.
Overall Downforce is reduced by 15%, with lap
times expected to be two seconds slower. Although as typical, Engineers will
claw back these decreases, which normally occurs over a regulation “life cycle”.
Yet
probably the hardest part to get used to will be the use of the new terminology
of Overtake, Boost and Recovery modes.
Recovery’s the most obvious, meaning the car is
“Harvesting” or recharging its electrical system.
Boost mode is when the stored electrical energy
is deployed for either offensive or defensive “Driving” modes.
While Overtake mode is when a driver can
“manually” enact the Boost mode provided they’re within one second of the
leading car for “Attacking” the driver ahead…
As here’s a pretty good “primer” short video
covering all of the complex 2026 F1 regulation changes.
VIDEO: Everything You need to Know about the F1 2026 Regulations
