F1 is gearing up for its biggest rule shake-up ever in 2026, and it’s got everyone talking. Teams aren’t just excited – they’re nervous too.
The changes are massive. We’re looking at cars that will be split 50-50 between hybrid and traditional engine power, something that’s never been done before in F1.
At first, teams were worried the rules were too strict. But the FIA (F1’s governing body) did something pretty smart: they actually listened to the teams.
"There’s more freedom to explore now," says Williams Racing boss James Vowles. He’s particularly happy with how things turned out after the FIA made some big adjustments to their original plans during the Brazil Grand Prix weekend.
The teams and FIA worked together like never before. Vowles puts it simply: "It really was a good reflection as to how all the teams came together with the FIA to produce those regulations as one."
But will these new cars actually be any good?
McLaren’s Andrea Stella thinks so. He’s been looking at the computer simulations, and he likes what he sees.
"The cornering speed now looks much more convincing," Stella says. That’s crucial because F1 needs to keep its position as the fastest show in motorsport.
There’s still some fine-tuning to do over the next few weeks. But Stella’s optimistic: "Hopefully this will lead us to good racing and good overall speed like we all want to see."
The real test will come in 2026 when these cars hit the track for the first time. But for now, it looks like F1’s big gamble on new rules might just pay off.
