DAWN OF A NEW ERA

2026 onwards Formula 1 cars to get lighter and smaller, aid overtaking, get more electrical power and use 100 percent sustainable fuel!

It's over a decade now, since we bid adieu to the naturally aspirated 2.4-litre V8s and welcomed the 1.6-litre, turbocharged V6 engines in F1 in 2013. And now, the International Automobile Federation or FIA has released the new regulations for the sport which will come into force from 2026. The cars undergo a raft of changes and will become smaller, nimbler and more environment-friendly. More importantly, the all-new 'power unit' will use 100 percent sustainable fuels along with the hybrid unit getting a massive 300 percent increase in battery power to offer nearly as much power as the internal combustion engine. Effectively, while electrical power will go up from the current 120kW to 350kW, the turbocharged V6 petrol engine's power is slated to come down from the current 550-560kW to 400kW. In addition, energy regeneration through braking will be doubled to 8.5mJ per lap.