A deep dive into the F1 2026 regulations

Last week, the FIA ​​announced the first draft of new regulations, which are scheduled to debut at the beginning of the 2026 season.

There are some big changes on the horizon, including smaller and more agile cars, a reduction in the minimum weight limit, and multiple front and rear wing downforce adjustment modes.

Power delivery will rely more on the battery and MOM, a manual override mode that drivers can activate for additional power at higher speeds.

But are these the right moves for continuing the series?

Jake Boxall-Legge joins Bryn Lucas on the Autosport Podcast to discuss what he thinks the rule changes will mean for the racing product in the future. Are concerns about manually powered ‘trains’ rather than DRS being scrapped soon a real concern?

There is also ongoing debate as to why some teams and drivers are opting out of changing the regulations, such as Sergio Perez and Lando Norris, who claim that the cycle of changes every four to five years is actively harming the competitiveness of the series.

Is it possible to reduce the weight of cars by 30 kilograms with even heavier drive units in 2026? Jake also wonders whether the push for sustainable fuels means the eventual return of the popular V10 engines of the 2000s.