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F1 has unveiled the new language that will be used to describe the technical complexities of its new 2026 technical rules.

The championship is introducing what is considered the largest technical shift in its long history starting in 2026, featuring fresh chassis and power unit regulations and the compulsory introduction of 100% sustainable fuels.

The updated 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids, which maintain the 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid, boast a substantially higher energy storage, necessitating significant developments in the cars' aerodynamics.

Throughout races, competitors will strategically manage electrical energy – potentially on qualifying laps – to secure the best performance.

Broad surveys were conducted with a wide range of fans, including dedicated enthusiasts and casual observers, to identify which phrases would aid comprehension of the main elements of the upcoming rules.

The primary aim was to present a range of advanced features of the racing as easy to grasp as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, older technical labels for some systems – such as "alphabetical mode names" for the active aerodynamics – have been discarded in favour of intuitive labels that succinctly convey the actual function of the innovation.

What's the New Technology?

The FIA states that drivers will have greater control to choose strategies regarding energy deployment, regeneration, and efficiency.

The upcoming changes feature a range of settings that will be shown on TV overlays to improve the viewers' comprehension of the on-track action.

• Overtake Mode: This supersedes the existing Drag Reduction System. It provides a burst of extra electrical energy deployable when a competitor is close behind the car ahead to facilitate an overtake.
• Extra Push Mode: This is a manual battery discharge from the ERS that can be deployed for offensive or defensive moves. It grants the pilot maximum power at the click of a switch.

Both of these strategic tools will have to be deployed strategically, as the total energy is capped.

• Active Aerodynamics: Both the front and rear wings adjust their angles – spreading on the straights for reduced drag and higher speed, and angling down in the turns for maximum downforce.
• Recharge: Drivers can replenish their battery with energy harvested under braking, or during partial power application at the straight's end or in sections where only limited engine output is applied.

2026 Car Specifications

The next-generation machines will be reduced in size and weight relative to current models, with a wheelbase reduced by 200mm to 3,400mm, car width cut by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the lowest permissible weight reduced by 30kg.

Total aerodynamic grip is projected to decrease by approximately fifteen to thirty percent, although constructors will inevitably claw this back as they refine their designs.

Drag has been cut by 40%. The cars will utilize active aerodynamics – front and rear wings will adjust on the straight sections to cut resistance and boost top speed and click back into place for maximum cornering performance.

Pirelli tyres will continue to use 18-inch rims, but the tyres themselves will be reduced in width, by a quarter-centimetre on the front and three centimetres on the rear.

Power Unit Revolution

The new power units will have an roughly half-and-half distribution in power produced by the internal combustion engine and the battery and motor, increasing from about 20% electrical this year.

The hybrid system is simplified through the deletion of the MGU-H, the complicated and costly unit that recovered energy from the turbo.

Every car on the grid will be obliged to compete on 100% sustainable fuel, created from biomass or lab-created processes.