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Formula 1 has introduced the official vocabulary that will be used to explain the advanced features of its new 2026 rulebook.

The championship is embarking on what is potentially the largest technical shift in its illustrious history for the 2026 campaign, featuring new chassis and engine rules and the required adoption of eco-friendly fuels.

The new power units, which retain the 1.6-litre V6 configuration, boast a substantially higher battery power, driving key advancements in the aero packages.

Over a race distance, pilots will tactically deploy battery power – potentially on qualifying laps – to secure the best performance.

Extensive fan consultation were undertaken with a diverse audience, including new, casual and core fans, to determine which terms would make things clearer of the main elements of the upcoming rules.

The key objective was to make a range of advanced features of the racing as accessible as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, initial designations for certain devices – such as "modes labelled X and Z" for the moveable wings – have been abandoned in favor of straightforward terms that clearly indicate the actual function of the system.

Key Technical Innovations

Regulators explain that drivers will have increased agency to choose strategies regarding battery management, energy recovery, and conservation.

The 2026 rules mandate a set of functions that will be shown on television graphics to enhance the fans' insight of the strategic duel.

• Passing Mode: This supersedes the present overtaking aid. It provides a burst of extra electrical energy accessible when a competitor is within one second the vehicle in front to facilitate an pass.
• Extra Push Mode: This is a driver-operated battery discharge from the ERS that can be utilized during overtaking or defending. It provides the driver peak output at the click of a switch.

Both of these key functions will have to be used with calculation, as the overall battery capacity is capped.

• Active Aerodynamics: Both the front and rear wings adjust their angles – opening on the high-speed sections for reduced drag and top speed, and angling down in the bends for peak grip.
• Energy Harvesting: The system can harvest energy with regenerative braking, or during coasting at the straight's end or in sections where only partial power is required.

2026 Car Specifications

The next-generation machines will be more compact and lighter than this year, with a wheelbase cut by 200mm to 3,400mm, overall width cut by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the minimum weight decreased by 30kg.

Total aerodynamic grip is projected to decrease by approximately a significant margin, although constructors will undoubtedly recover some as they optimize their packages.

Aerodynamic drag has been cut by 40%. The vehicles will utilize moveable wing elements – front and rear wings will adjust on the straights to cut resistance and boost top speed and click back into place for optimal grip in corners.

Tyres will retain the current rim size, but the rubber compounds will be reduced in width, by 25 millimetres on the front axle and 30mm at the rear.

Power Unit Revolution

The new power units will have an roughly half-and-half distribution in horsepower generated by the petrol engine and the electrical system, up from about 20% electrical under present rules.

The energy recovery system is streamlined through the removal of the MGU-H, the intricate and expensive component that harvested power from the exhaust turbo.

All vehicles will be mandated to operate on carbon-neutral fuel, produced using organic sources or synthetic production methods.