2026 Aerodynamic & Chassis Regulations

[FW17]

True, if used front active aero should be limited to small changes of the rear most front wing flap, even then it will be tricky but solvable

Tricky but it will be interesting field of study for Aero department. The shaping of the side pods will be all the more important as to be low drag when front DRS is open and closed.

Red Bull has a wonderful system of having least drag when rear wing is open now which is a real differentiator with other teams. 2026 is going to be all the more a test for the aero department to come up with the best car in both states of the DRS

[Tommy Cookers]

... 2026 is going to be all the more a test for the aero department to come up with the best car in both states of the DRS

a job for flap blowing ?

[wuzak]

https://ibb.co/LpFHywP

Could we just lose those wing end plate extensions?

[Holm86]

I'm so pessimistic about these 2026 regulations, both engine and aero.
I think it'll be a mess, and need a massive correction or a whole new regulation set within 2 years ...

[Farnborough]

I'm so pessimistic about these 2026 regulations, both engine and aero.
I think it'll be a mess, and need a massive correction or a whole new regulation set within 2 years ...

Agree ... it has everything to do with everybody and their desire to change something .... nothing to do with Formula 1.

Pulled in every direction to appease motor manufacturing market position, ultimately to destroy any semblance of what a simple racing series embodies.

[wuzak]

Could theyget rid of the wheel covers?

[FW17]

Could we just lose those wing end plate extensions?

That rear wing last flap like the F2 car looks so silly

[FW17]

I'm so pessimistic about these 2026 regulations, both engine and aero.
I think it'll be a mess, and need a massive correction or a whole new regulation set within 2 years ...

A Superformula SF23 does 1'35.792 with 550 hp, 670 kg, no DRS but with push to pass


F1 2023 1:28.197 with 1000 hp, 789 kgs
F1 2019 1:27.064 with 950 hp, 743 kg
F1 2014 1:32.506 with 840 hp 691 kg

I am quiet sure the 2026 will be able to beat SF23 and be somewhere close to 2014 car.

And I can live with 2014 car size too

[Vanja #66]

Red Bull has a wonderful system of having least drag when rear wing is open now which is a real differentiator with other teams. 2026 is going to be all the more a test for the aero department to come up with the best car in both states of the DRS

Ferrari and Aston Martin have pretty much caught up with DRS gain, by increasing the RW drag with DRS closed. There was never any secret to Red Bull's DRS, it was always about the biggest flap at the biggest angle

[AR3-GP]

... 2026 is going to be all the more a test for the aero department to come up with the best car in both states of the DRS

a job for flap blowing ?

A job for webbed driving gloves

[Apexseal157]

I'm so pessimistic about these 2026 regulations, both engine and aero.
I think it'll be a mess, and need a massive correction or a whole new regulation set within 2 years ...

yh me too, it just makes the sport more complex, more artifical and arguably will make the sport harder to watch. d-rating will be an issue and there will have to be even more management which is frankly boring, I can't imagine the drivers are salivating to race these new cars that change in downforce levels constantly. Everyone is talking about efficiency but what about the the spectacle, the cars are still too heavy and the sports facination with displaying itself as green is not only nonsensical but is a detrement to the ability to create good racing.

Good racing is a simple thing, give the drivers cars that are light, have simple aero, small dimentions, lots of power and tires that they can push hard with and you can be sure the racing would be good and would give drivers the ability to display their talents to the viewers more obviously. I love aero and all the technical parts of f1 but it's become more obvious to me that that the sport is going in the wrong direction.

[Tommy Cookers]

... these new cars that change in downforce levels constantly. Everyone is talking about efficiency but ....

active aero could readily give downforce fixed relative to speed (as an aeroplane does fixed lift) ....
yes that's not trivial

but if F1 is an efficiency formula it's an efficiency formula

[Apexseal157]

... these new cars that change in downforce levels constantly. Everyone is talking about efficiency but ....

active aero could readily give downforce fixed relative to speed (as an aeroplane does fixed lift) ....
yes that's not trivial

but if F1 is an efficiency formula it's an efficiency formula

that doesnt sound like what is happenening here though, to me this is basically double drs on 'roids and no driver wants to rock up to a turn and suddenly the downforce level changes. Gusty crosswinds already cause drivers to crash due to changing df levels so having the aero balance shifting about with active aero will be horrid to drive on the edge. Also think about the saftey horrors, imagine the rear wing flaps fail (like redbull's did a few years ago) and suddenly you're turning in with no rear downforce... Wing failure at baku? Dead, faulty electronics at spa? Aeroplane. If F1 is an "efficiency formula" and that priority comes above all else then the sport will suffer becuase the entertainment value is bad now and will get worse. The efficiency formula should be endurance prototypes not F1.

[AR3-GP]

... these new cars that change in downforce levels constantly. Everyone is talking about efficiency but ....

active aero could readily give downforce fixed relative to speed (as an aeroplane does fixed lift) ....
yes that's not trivial

but if F1 is an efficiency formula it's an efficiency formula

that doesnt sound like what is happenening here though, to me this is basically double drs on 'roids and no driver wants to rock up to a turn and suddenly the downforce level changes. Gusty crosswinds already cause drivers to crash due to changing df levels so having the aero balance shifting about with active aero will be horrid to drive on the edge. Also think about the saftey horrors, imagine the rear wing flaps fail (like redbull's did a few years ago) and suddenly you're turning in with no rear downforce... Wing failure at baku? Dead, faulty electronics at spa? Aeroplane. If F1 is an "efficiency formula" and that priority comes above all else then the sport will suffer becuase the entertainment value is bad now and will get worse. The efficiency formula should be endurance prototypes not F1.

As I understand it, there will designated and electronically activated "active aero zones".

[Zynerji]

active aero could readily give downforce fixed relative to speed (as an aeroplane does fixed lift) ....
yes that's not trivial

but if F1 is an efficiency formula it's an efficiency formula

that doesnt sound like what is happenening here though, to me this is basically double drs on 'roids and no driver wants to rock up to a turn and suddenly the downforce level changes. Gusty crosswinds already cause drivers to crash due to changing df levels so having the aero balance shifting about with active aero will be horrid to drive on the edge. Also think about the saftey horrors, imagine the rear wing flaps fail (like redbull's did a few years ago) and suddenly you're turning in with no rear downforce... Wing failure at baku? Dead, faulty electronics at spa? Aeroplane. If F1 is an "efficiency formula" and that priority comes above all else then the sport will suffer becuase the entertainment value is bad now and will get worse. The efficiency formula should be endurance prototypes not F1.

As I understand it, there will designated and electronically activated "active aero zones".

Guaranteed train-wreck...