In 2026, the FIA officially revealed a series of changes it has brought to the F1 season, which are not only related to engine changes, but also innovations in the rules of the entire season. After years of planning and discussion, this new season will become the 77th F1 World Championship in history and herald a new era of competition. In addition, the season will take place in multiple locations around the world, with drivers and teams competing for World Drivers' and World Constructors' Championship honors.
"These new rules are not only a technical update to the engine, but will also trigger rule changes throughout the season."
Starting from the 2026 season, F1 racing will completely change its engine structure. One of the most intriguing changes is the introduction of new engine specifications. Although the new engine's total power will still be over 1,000 horsepower, it will all come from a combination of different sources. The existing 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged internal combustion engine architecture will be retained, however, as part of the energy recovery system, the MGU-H (thermal generator unit) will be disabled and the MGU-K (kinetic generator unit) output will be Increased horsepower from 160 to 470 horsepower.
The new engine architecture will need to adapt to changing environmental requirements. F1's decision to use all sustainable fuels for the event is a big step towards environmental protection in motorsport. The balance between engine performance and environmental protection will be one of the focuses in the new season.
“The combination of engine performance improvement and environmental protection is our future direction.”
In addition to engine changes, the new season also introduces new body specifications and dynamic designs. The width and length of the car will be reduced, which indicates that the car's handling will be improved. The old drag reduction system will be canceled and replaced by a new manual override mode, which will bring a more direct driving experience.
Safety improvements also cannot be ignored. The new front impact structure design will improve the safety of the car during a collision, while the strengthening of the side impact protection system will reduce the possibility of driver injury. At the same time, the FIA will also require cars to be equipped with side safety lights to alert track staff when encountering a malfunction. These are all to improve safety standards in competitions.
Having said that, this series of changes in the 2026 F1 season will undoubtedly attract more new teams to join. Well-known brands such as Audi and Cadillac will appear, and Ford is also returning to the competition after many years of rest. Their addition to the event will further intensify the competition. Audi will enter as its own team, while Cadillac will compete in F1 for the first time as it continues its expansion into the racing world.
“The addition of new teams will definitely bring topic and competition, and enhance the excitement of the season.”
In terms of the season calendar, the Spanish Grand Prix will be moved from the original Barcelona circuit to the urban street circuit in Madrid, which makes people look forward to the different racing experience that the new circuit will bring. Likewise, the Dutch Grand Prix will also adopt a sprint format and this will be its last time, so the final memories will be anything but mediocre.
Facing the upcoming 2026 season, the future of F1 is full of uncertainty and expectations. The introduction of new engines and new vehicle designs will not only change the technical aspects of racing, but may also affect the overall appearance of the event in the next few years. How the major teams respond to this series of changes will become the focus of the season.
With new rules coming into effect, where will the F1 sport develop? What surprises and challenges will future racing bring us?