The F1 Commission has made its first evaluations of the 2026 regulations in Sakhir, with drivers providing positive feedback on car weight and drivability. No major modifications will be implemented immediately, and the proposal for 12 Sprint weekends remains under review pending approval from the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).
FIA issues official statement on F1 Commission decisions
The first meeting of the Formula 1 Commission for 2026 took place today, February 18, in Bahrain. The meeting was chaired by FIA Single-Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis and FOM President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.
Several improvements to the 2026 Formula 1 regulations were agreed upon and will now be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for final approval. Below is a summary of the key points discussed.
F1 Commission – Feedback on 2026 regulations
As is typical when introducing regulatory changes of this magnitude, several aspects still need to be fully understood in light of pre-season testing. The group – comprising teams, power unit manufacturers, the FIA, and Formula One Management (FOM) – reaffirmed its commitment to addressing all technical aspects ahead of the 2026 season opener in Melbourne next month.
Constructive discussions were held among all teams following initial driver feedback collected via an FIA survey. Topics included overall car characteristics, energy and power unit management, aerodynamics, race and overtaking dynamics, as well as tires and mechanical grip.
Drivers responded positively to the reduced weight and more compact dimensions of the 2026 cars. They generally agreed that the new vehicles offer improved driving quality and more effective initial acceleration.
Further evaluations and technical checks on energy management will take place over the next three days during the second pre-season test in Bahrain.
It was also agreed that no immediate major regulatory changes are necessary, as current evidence and feedback are still partial. Premature interventions could risk creating instability ahead of the first race. Any revisions will be considered once new data becomes available.
During the meeting, constructive discussions were also held on the starting procedure. As a result, additional assessments of race systems and on-board management will be carried out during the current Bahrain test session.
Commercial considerations
The possibility of increasing the number of Sprint events to 12 was discussed, based on fan and promoter demand.
All regulatory changes remain subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).
The F1 Commission’s first meeting of 2026 in Bahrain has therefore confirmed that drivers are pleased with the lighter, more compact cars, while major regulatory changes have been postponed to avoid instability before the Melbourne season opener, even as the sport considers doubling the number of Sprint races to twelve.
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