F1 has released new renders of the 2026 car
Formula 1 has revealed new renders of the cars to cater for the new regulations in 2026, as well as confirmation of the terminology of some of the new key aspects it incorporates.
F1 will enter a new era in 2026 with new technical regulations, that see 50-50 hybrids and aero changes, as well as the cars being generally lighter and smaller.
Fans have been treated to a series of renders already, which were released by the FIA as information on the new rulebook gathered pace.
But the sport itself has now taken the step of releasing its own, as well as clearing up some grey areas on finer details.
The sport’s governing body’s single seater director Nikolas Tombazis recently explained that discussions were taking place about the official terms for new in-car features.
Modes to boost overtaking and cornering, known as ‘X’ and ‘Y’, one of which will now be known as ‘Active Aero’.
This means that the car’s front and rear wing elements dependent of where it is on track, with the flaps being opened in ‘low drag’ mode on straights, which, unlike predecessor DRS, can be used on any lap.
This is dovetailed with ‘Overtake Mode’, which is similar in that it can only be used when within one second of the car in front, but will use electric energy instead.
As well as this, there is ‘Boost’ mode, which can be used in either defending or attacking track position, provided there is enough energy in the battery to do so.
In conjunction with this, there are various other modes for recharging the battery, which is completed via Energy Recovery System [ERS], which F1 says can “recharge the battery with twice as much energy per lap, through things like recovery under braking or lifting off the throttle at the end of straights.”
This means that the previous system, MGU-H, is now no longer in use.
Other unique changes include the increase of difficulty in crash tests, and the strengthening of the roll hoop, now able to take 23 percent more load.
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