All the FIA changes for the start of the new technical cycle
The FIA has introduced several modifications to the rules for the 2026 Formula 1 season. During the World Motor Sport Council meeting held today in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan — where Mohammed Ben Sulayem will be re-elected as FIA president on 12 December — the governing body of the championship formalized a series of changes that will subsequently need ratification by the F1 Commission.
Single-session testing returns in 2027
First and foremost, from 2027 Formula 1 testing will return to a single venue with only one session. The three sessions planned for the 2026 season — one at Barcelona at the end of January and two in Bahrain in February — represent a temporary exception due to the introduction of new regulations, and thus entirely new cars that teams need to fully understand. In order to improve understanding of the new cars, each team will be allowed to bring 60 personnel on track, up from the previous limit of 58. With the additional presence of Cadillac, the paddock will be significantly more crowded compared to 2025.
Technical modifications and updates
Several other technical changes have also been agreed upon. These include updates to the operation of the new Driver Adjustable Bodywork system, which allows drivers to modify aerodynamic elements in straight-line and cornering modes to optimize car performance during the lap.
Changes to session procedures
Procedural changes have also been implemented in some sessions. For instance, limitations on the use of dry-weather tyres during Sprint Qualifying will no longer be removed if the session is declared wet. Additionally, in the event of a red flag during the single free practice session of a Sprint weekend, the session clock can be stopped by the race director, just like in qualifying, to allow teams sufficient time to prepare for Saturday and Sunday sessions.
The six-section rulebook is complete
With today’s approvals, the entire 2026 regulatory framework is now officially in place. The regulations are split into six clearly defined sections:
- A – General regulatory provisions
- B – Sporting regulations
- C – Technical regulations
- D – Financial regulations for teams
- E – Financial regulations for power unit manufacturers
- F – Operational regulations
These changes still require formal ratification by the F1 Commission, but that is considered a formality. Teams can now finalize their 2026 projects safe in the knowledge that the rulebook – from testing format to active aero and cost caps – is locked in for the dawn of Formula 1’s bold new era.
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