Formula 1: The 2026 F1 regulations are yet to be set in motion in terms of deciding the chassis rules. The current F1 car weighs a minimum of around 798 kg after the latest overhaul in 2022. Notably, the cars in the turbo-hybrid era which started in 2014 were significantly lighter than the current machinery. Over the years, the introduction of batteries, energy recovery systems, and modern-day safety systems led to a gradual increase in car poundage.
The 2022 regulation change still remains the most drastic of all. The new cars were fundamentally different from their predecessors. Right from the aerodynamical changes to bigger wheels, multiple things contributed to the increase in weight of these new cars. These additions, among others, pushed the overall weight of the modern F1 car up by around 5%. Now, with the cars weighing 798 kg excluding fuel, it’s an increase of around 43 kg since 2021.
Notably, This is the highest year-on-year weight rise since the start of the turbo-hybrid era in 2014. More recently, F1 bosses and stakeholders came out to discuss a way back to lighter cars. Mercedes star and director of Grand Prix Drivers’ Association George Russell even termed it a safety hazard. It has been widely accepted that the new and heavy machinery is not healthy both in terms of environmental commitments and for competitive racing.
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F1 bosses Sulayem and Domenicali are all for lighter cars
FIA president Muhammad Ben Sulayem has a demonstrated history of immense success in Motorsports both as a driver and as an administrator. More recently, he opened up on this hot-and-coming topic of F1 cars and their excessive weight. Though he was considerate about the consequences it might pose, Sulayem still advocated for lighter cars. It is also because he has been a former rally champion, a sport that necessarily needs more lightweight machinery to win.
“One thing I would like to see is very clear: we need a lighter car. I believe this is better. I come from motorsport, where lighter cars are safer and they won’t use the same amount of fuel,” said the FIA chief as reported by Motorsport.
“It will be hard to achieve, but everybody wants it. So I am pushing because I come from rallying, where nothing is worse than having a heavy car,” he added.
Meanwhile, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also concurred with the same view. “As you know, with the hybrid engines, with the batteries, the weight is getting higher and that is something that is not really in the nature of F1. So, it’s a topic for discussion for the future,” reported Motorsport.
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