Historic Rule Changes Set to Reshape the Sport
The 2025 season ends with McLaren claiming both championships, but 2026 promises a complete transformation. Formula 1 introduces sweeping technical regulations and expands the grid to eleven teams. A major British sports outlet explains what fans should expect in this bold new era.
The new rules represent the biggest overhaul in years. Cars shed 30 kilograms, shrink by ten centimetres, and become more efficient. Power units now split output almost evenly between electric and combustion power. Fully sustainable fuels complete the transformation.
The effect on racing remains uncertain. Chassis and engine regulations have never changed so drastically at the same time. Aerodynamics also undergo a full redesign. The 1.6-litre V6 hybrid remains, but the MGU-H disappears and the electric share rises to roughly 50 percent.
Engineers must rethink airflow completely. Ground-effect tunnels disappear. Movable front and rear wings return to increase straight-line speed and energy recovery under braking. Drivers voice concerns over predictability and car balance.
The combustion engine will often act as a generator and may run at maximum revs in some corners. DRS disappears because the rear wing now serves new purposes. A push-to-pass system replaces it, giving short bursts of electrical energy.
Lewis Hamilton admits he cannot predict the outcome. He warns that wet-weather driving may become extremely demanding but hopes the cars will deliver exciting racing.
British Teen Arvid Lindblad Joins the Grid
Most drivers remain in 2026, but a few changes stand out, including a young British rookie.
Isack Hadjar leaves Racing Bulls to join Max Verstappen at Red Bull after earning his first podium at Zandvoort.
Arvid Lindblad, an 18-year-old Briton with Swedish and Indian heritage, takes Hadjar’s former seat. He finished sixth in Formula 2 with Campos Racing and now teams up with Liam Lawson.
Cadillac Becomes the Championship’s 11th Team
Cadillac enters Formula 1 backed by General Motors.
The team chooses experience, signing Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, who share 106 podiums.
Graeme Lowdon becomes team principal after previous roles at Virgin and Marussia.
Cadillac will run Ferrari engines for three seasons before switching to GM-built power units in 2029.
Audi Takes Over Sauber and Joins as a Factory Team
Audi enters Formula 1 by fully acquiring the Swiss Sauber team, which finished ninth in 2025.
Audi develops its own engine for the new regulations. Jonathan Wheatley becomes team boss and works alongside Mattia Binotto, who leads Audi’s F1 programme.
Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto remain as drivers for Audi’s debut season.
Ford Partners with Red Bull as Renault Exits
Red Bull begins a new engine partnership with Ford, co-funding its 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 exits engine building entirely. Alpine will now use Mercedes power units.
Madrid Joins the Calendar, Replacing Imola
The 2026 calendar features 24 races, opening in March in Australia and concluding in December in Abu Dhabi. Spain hosts two events next year.
Madrid replaces Imola with a hybrid circuit combining public roads and private sections still under construction.
The Madrid race runs from 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 appearance.
