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F1 has introduced the simplified language that will be used to reference the advanced features of its new 2026 rulebook.

The racing series is introducing what is considered the biggest rules overhaul 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 hybrid V6 layout, boast a greatly enhanced electrical capacity, driving major innovations in the cars' aerodynamics.

Throughout races, competitors will carefully oversee ERS energy – potentially on qualifying laps – to extract the optimal performance.

Extensive fan consultation were conducted with a wide range of fans, including long-time followers and newcomers, to identify which terms would make things clearer of the central aspects of the 2026 changes.

The key objective was to make a set of intricate new areas of the competition as easy to grasp as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, older technical labels for certain devices – such as "modes labelled X and Z" for the active aerodynamics – have been discarded in favor of intuitive labels that directly explain the actual function of the innovation.

Key Technical Innovations

According to rule-makers that competitors will have increased agency to choose strategies regarding battery management, energy recovery, and saving energy.

The new regulations mandate a set of functions that will be visually displayed on television graphics to enhance the audience's understanding of the race battle.

• Attack Mode: This takes over from the current DRS. It provides a surge of additional ERS power available when a competitor is close behind the car ahead to assist with an overtake.
• Extra Push Mode: This is a driver-operated energy deployment from the hybrid system that can be used in overtaking or defending. It grants the pilot maximum power at the push of a button.

Both of these key functions will have to be used with calculation, as the available electrical charge is capped.

• Active Aerodynamics: Both the nose and rear wings move automatically – opening on the high-speed sections for low aerodynamic resistance and top speed, and angling down in the corners for optimal cornering performance.
• Recharge: The system can recharge the energy store with regenerative braking, or during coasting at the end of straights or in certain corners where only reduced throttle is applied.

2026 Car Specifications

The vehicles for the new era will be reduced in size and weight compared to the 2025 spec, with a distance between axles shortened by 200mm to 3,400mm, car width reduced by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the lowest permissible weight lowered by 30kg.

Total aerodynamic grip is expected to drop by approximately 15-30%, although squads will inevitably claw this back as they develop their cars.

Air resistance has been reduced by 40%. The vehicles will employ active aerodynamics – front and rear wings will move on the straight sections to cut resistance and enhance velocity and return into place for peak handling.

Tyres will continue to use 18-inch wheel rims, 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 approximate 50-50 split in energy output by the ICE and the battery and motor, increasing from about 20% electrical under present rules.

The energy recovery system is simplified through the deletion of the MGU-H, the intricate and expensive device that harvested power from the turbo.

All vehicles will be mandated to operate on carbon-neutral fuel, created from plant-based materials or lab-created processes.