2026 F1 Cars - General Thread

[johnny comelately]

It was notable how little if any dolphining there was on the McMurtry Speirling car

Wasn’t it a fan car? Fundamentally different way to may floor downforce, much less sensitive to instantaneous ride height.

Yes.
It used only 1 square metre of suction area (from memory) but the sensitivity was reduced because of the active suspension, why not?
I see the convoluted rules causing half the problems, simplify the rules and be entertained...

[BassVirolla]

Once the budget cap gets, in some more years, totally settled and policed, I'm all in for more technical freedom, basically ruling the safety related dimensions & items.

Possibly also some basic dimensions: Ride height, total height, minimum weight, width, length & track, in order to try to ensure some target lap time.

[Mogster]

Width...

But F1 cars have been 2m wide again since 2017? Why hope F1 doesn't go BACK to 2m wide cars when they already are?

I know...

It should read return to 1.8M from the current 2M wide cars. 2M is about right.

[wuzak]

Wheelbase needs to be and it seems can be reduced. I’m really not sure why it wasn’t reduced by more for 2022.

I think that reducing the wheelbase substantially moves the weight balance rearwards.

That would require a change in tyre width - narrower at the front or wider at the rear.

[OO7]

My preference would be:

Overall Width - 2150mm
Bodywork/Sidepod Width - 1500mm
Front Wing Width - 1500mm
Rear Wing Width - 1050mm
Wheelbase - 3000mm
Front Wheel Width (Including tyre) - 325mm
Front Wheel Diameter (Including tyre) - 635mm
Rear Wheel Width (Including tyre) - 460mm (18 inches)
Rear Wheel Diameter (Including tyre) - 660mm
Front Wheel Diameter - 406.5mm
Rear Wheel Diameter - 406.5mm

[vorticism]

How about:

[jjn9128]

Please god no. that's hideous.

[Zynerji]

I'd like to see a general downsizing overall.

1800mm wide
2022 tyres at 2008 width.
An 0.8L I3 turbo with standardized MGU-H with TJI tech, 18000 RPM and AWD KERS and a smaller, solid-state battery pack.
Hot-swappable fuel pods.
2022-ish wings and tunnels.

Small, nimble, lower weight, less downforce, peakier engines. Much more fun to watch.

[vorticism]

Refueling
Omit high MJ batteries and high power electronics
Elective safety features
Smaller radiators (aim to reduce radiator volume 50%)
Engine PTO cooling fan (5kg incl clutch)
Reduce chassis weight reflecting above
Require 300 - 600 Hz exhaust pulse frequency

Please god no. that's hideous.

Fenderphobia increases the carbon footprint of the sport and must be driven out.

[jjn9128]

Refueling
Omit high MJ batteries and high power electronics
Elective safety features
Smaller radiators (aim to reduce radiator volume 50%)
Engine PTO cooling fan (5kg incl clutch)
Reduce chassis weight reflecting above
Require 300 - 600 Hz exhaust pulse frequency

Please god no. that's hideous.

Fenderphobia increases the carbon footprint of the sport and must be driven out.

I suggested wheel arches to FOM

[vorticism]

I suggested wheel arches to FOM

What was their response?

[jjn9128]

I'd like to see a general downsizing overall.

1800mm wide
2022 tyres at 2008 width.
An 0.8L I3 turbo with standardized MGU-H with TJI tech, 18000 RPM and AWD KERS and a smaller, solid-state battery pack.
Hot-swappable fuel pods.
2022-ish wings and tunnels.

Small, nimble, lower weight, less downforce, peakier engines. Much more fun to watch.

I would be interested to see a 1998-2008 size and weight car but with a underbody tunnels and a halo - especially how it's wake looks and how another car reacts to said wake. I think with wider 2017-->2022-->onwards tyres you'd have to increase the track somewhat to have space for some bodywork. As an aero I'd want narrow tyres and/or wide track, as a fan I think the wide rear tyres look mean as though.

[vorticism]

Round two. FIA purchases turbofan. Turbofan arrives to each venue along with transportable wind tunnel. Conex format, accordion, what have you. Set maximum downforce limit. Test cars before and after the event. Free bodywork development.

One test to rule them all:

[BlueCheetah66]

I do quite like WEC's idea of performance limits because it allows them to give freedom to teams in terms of design. However, I'm not a fan of its primary aim of limiting performance and bringing all competitors to the same level. I wonder if there is a way F1 can promote design freedom without having it be completely open with a large field spread. Would it be plausible for F1 to publish a variety of regulations and each team has to pick a set for two seasons or something, with each set promoting a different car philosophy

[ben8994]

Hi All,

I'm looking for a PDF copy of the 2026 Specification ECU (SECU) tender document released by the FIA in February 2022. If anyone is able to help or point me at a more relevant thread, please get in touch.

Thanks in advance.