Historic Rule Changes Transform the Championship
The 2025 season ends with McLaren winning both titles, but 2026 brings a complete reset. Formula 1 introduces sweeping technical regulations and expands the grid to eleven teams. A leading British sports outlet explains what fans should watch in the new era.
The upcoming rules mark the largest overhaul in years. Cars lose 30 kilograms, shrink by ten centimetres, and become more efficient. Power units now balance electric and combustion output nearly equally. Fully sustainable fuels complete the transformation.
The effect on racing remains unknown. Chassis and engine rules have never changed so drastically at the same time. Aerodynamics also see major updates. The 1.6-litre V6 hybrid remains, but the MGU-H disappears, and electric output rises to roughly 50 percent.
These changes force engineers to rethink aerodynamics. Ground-effect tunnels vanish. Movable front and rear wings return to boost straight-line speed and energy recovery under braking. Drivers voice concerns about the new balance and predictability.
The combustion engine will often act as a generator and may run at maximum revs in certain corners. DRS disappears because the rear wing serves new purposes. A push-to-pass system replaces it, giving brief bursts of electrical energy.
Lewis Hamilton admits he cannot predict how the cars will feel. He warns that rain driving may become extremely challenging but hopes the final result will impress fans.
British Teen Arvid Lindblad Joins Formula 1
Most drivers stay in 2026, but several changes stand out, including the arrival of a young British rookie.
Isack Hadjar moves from Racing Bulls to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull after scoring his first podium in the Netherlands.
Arvid Lindblad, an 18-year-old Briton with Swedish and Indian heritage, takes Hadjar’s old seat. He finished sixth in Formula 2 with Campos Racing and now partners Liam Lawson next season.
Cadillac Becomes the 11th Team on the Grid
Cadillac enters Formula 1 with backing from General Motors.
The team signs experienced drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, who share 106 podiums.
Graeme Lowdon becomes team principal after stints at Virgin and Marussia.
Cadillac will use Ferrari engines for three seasons before switching to GM-built power units in 2029.
Audi Rebrands Sauber and Joins as a Factory Team
Audi joins by fully taking over the Swiss Sauber team, which finished ninth in 2025.
The German manufacturer develops its own engine for the new regulations. Jonathan Wheatley becomes team boss and works with Mattia Binotto, who leads Audi’s F1 programme.
Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto remain as Audi’s drivers for the first season.
Ford Partners with Red Bull as Renault Exits
Red Bull begins a new engine partnership with Ford, which co-funds the team’s 2026 power-unit development.
This ends Red Bull’s long collaboration with Honda. Honda becomes the works supplier for Aston Martin, where Adrian Newey takes over as team principal.
Renault stops engine development entirely. Alpine will now use Mercedes power units.
Madrid Replaces Imola on the Calendar
The 2026 calendar again features 24 races. The season opens in March in Australia and concludes in December in Abu Dhabi. Spain hosts two events next year.
Madrid replaces Imola with a hybrid layout combining public roads and private sections still under construction.
The Madrid race runs 11–13 September and ends the uninterrupted European leg of the season.
Barcelona remains as the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix from 12–14 June.
Canada moves to 22–24 May to align with Miami, which runs 1–3 May. Monaco shifts to 5–7 June.
Six sprint races return. Silverstone joins China, Miami, Canada, Zandvoort and Singapore, with Zandvoort hosting its final year.
