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The world of Formula 1 has revealed the new language that will be used to reference the advanced features of its revolutionary 2026 technical rules.

The racing series is introducing what is considered the most significant regulation change in its competitive history for the 2026 campaign, featuring revised car and engine specifications and the required adoption of fully sustainable fuels.

The revised engines, which keep the 1.6-litre V6 configuration, boast a greatly enhanced electrical capacity, driving major innovations in the aero packages.

Over a race distance, pilots will tactically deploy electrical energy – potentially on flying laps – to extract the best performance.

Broad surveys were carried out with a diverse audience, including new, casual and core fans, to identify which terminology would aid comprehension of the central aspects of the 2026 changes.

The key objective was to render a set of intricate features of the competition as easy to grasp as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, initial designations for some systems – such as "alphabetical mode names" for the moveable wings – have been discarded in favour of descriptive names that succinctly convey the primary purpose of the system.

Exploring the New Tech

According to rule-makers that racers will have more power to determine tactics regarding battery management, harvesting, and saving energy.

The 2026 rules introduce a series of modes that will be visually displayed on TV overlays to aid the viewers' comprehension of the strategic duel.

• Attack Mode: This replaces the current DRS. It provides a burst of extra electrical energy accessible when a driver is close behind the car ahead to execute an overtake.
• Extra Push Mode: This is a manual power boost from the ERS that can be utilized during overtaking or defending. It grants the pilot maximum power at the push of a button.

Both of these crucial modes will have to be managed carefully, as the overall battery capacity is strictly limited.

• Active Aero: Both the nose and rear wings change configuration – spreading on the high-speed sections for low aerodynamic resistance and increased velocity, and closing in the turns for optimal cornering performance.
• Battery Recharge: The system can recharge the energy store with energy harvested under braking, or during coasting at the end of straights or in corners where only partial power is applied.

Car Design Evolution

The vehicles for the new era will be more compact and lighter than this year, with a wheelbase cut by 200mm to 3,400mm, width narrowed by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the car weight lowered by 30kg.

Total aerodynamic grip is projected to decrease by approximately a significant margin, although squads will naturally regain performance as they optimize their packages.

Air resistance has been slashed by 40%. The cars will feature adjustable aero systems – both wings will adjust on the straight sections to improve speed and increase straightline speed and revert into place for peak handling.

Wheels will retain the current rim size, but the actual tyres will be slimmer, by 25 millimetres on the front axle and 30mm at the rear.

What's Changing in the Engines?

The revised hybrid units will have an roughly half-and-half distribution in energy output by the petrol engine and the electrical system, up from about one-fifth electric power this year.

The energy recovery system is streamlined through the elimination of the complex turbo energy recovery device, the intricate and expensive unit that generated electricity from the turbo.

All vehicles will be required to run on fully sustainable fuel, manufactured from plant-based materials or lab-created processes.