The next-generation ground-effect single-seaters could be significantly different from the ones currently racing: the FIA aims to have narrower and shorter cars to improve performance by reducing drag. Among the proposed changes, there’s the idea of switching to not only narrower tires but also 16-inch rims instead of the current 18-inch ones. Pirelli hasn’t been approached about this yet, but the modification could make sense in pursuit of these objectives.
Let’s try to imagine what Formula 1 in 2026 might look like. The technical regulations concerning power units have long been established (the last revision was on June 20 last year), but when it comes to the chassis and aerodynamics, we’re still in uncharted territory. Predictions abound, but there are few certainties.
The direction is to head towards low drag single-seaters since the endothermic engine will account for only 50% of the power produced (around 550 horsepower), with the rest coming from hybrid systems, specifically a 350 kW MGU-K. Ensuring 1000 horsepower throughout an entire lap won’t be easy, so solutions are being studied to prevent cars from becoming significantly slower over a lap.
In the exclusive interview that Nikolas Tombazis gave to Motorsport.com after the Italian GP in Monza, certain considerations were raised that remain valid: “We will have smaller cars, shorter and narrower. The goal is to reduce weight by around 50 kilograms, which is why we are considering narrower wheel sizes and a different rear wing. To reduce fuel consumption, we may go down to a 90 kg tank instead of the current 110 kg.”
Deciphering the words of the FIA’s Single-Seater Director allows us to put together some information to create a sort of profile for the F1 of 2026. This includes a significant reduction in wheelbase (from 3,600 mm to 3,400 mm, a decrease of 20 cm in length), a width of 1,900 mm compared to today’s 2,000 mm, without returning to the narrow cars of 2016 that were 1,800 mm wide.
However, when it comes to wheels and tires, it’s only mentioned that they will be narrower, without providing further details. Observers, therefore, speculate about a reduction in width (currently, the front slick is 305 mm, and the rear is 405 mm) by an amount that hasn’t been discussed yet.
Having narrower tires means improved aerodynamic penetration with a significant reduction in drag, increasing efficiency and, therefore, performance. On the downside, there is less tire contact with the ground, resulting in less mechanical grip.
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All these considerations have been made with the assumption of retaining 18-inch rims, as Formula 1 switched to low-profile tires with the introduction of ground-effect cars in 2022. Transitioning to larger rims came with a weight cost of over 14 kg, mainly attributed to the wheels rather than the tires.
When the goal is to reduce weight, it becomes apparent that a reduction in wheel diameter must also be considered, without returning to the 13-inch rims that characterized Formula 1 from the 1960s until two seasons ago. The idea could be to find a good compromise with 16-inch rims, a size unprecedented in the world of premier motorsports.
Some might wonder if, after just four years, we’ll be forsaking a solution that brought Formula 1 tires closer to those of high-performance road cars, creating a more direct technological transfer between the track and the road. It’s a valid question, but the FIA is trying to establish regulations that align with its goals.
Since Pat Symonds, Formula 1’s Technical Director, stated in Auto Motor und Sport that the 50 kg weight loss won’t be achievable because more than 20 kg can’t be removed, almost contradicting Tombazis, the FIA’s proposal of moving to 16-inch wheels has surfaced as an option for the 2026 car. This could help reduce weight while ensuring a balance in dimensions, allowing for well-proportioned and aesthetically pleasing single-seaters.
In summary, the new regulations could lead to a significantly different Formula 1 from what we’re accustomed to, and perhaps there will be a way to break Red Bull’s dominance, unless Adrian Newey comes up with some other ingenious solution.
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