2026 Regs potential delay - Discussion

[DJ Downforce]

There has been murmurs about the 26 regs being changed, pushed back or cancelled for a few months now.

Audi recently came out stating there distain for this idea.

Now it's claimed Duchessa (well respected journalist) has told this individual that the regs may be delayed by one year:



Thoughts on this?

[Richard C]

Pure fantasy? Maybe it's an interesting idea, but it has serious problems with actually being implemented?

• Audi is entering in 2026. If not their engine which do they use? Does Audi even want to use another engine?
• Who will provide engines for Red Bull and VCARB? Honda? Is Honda willing or able to pivot back from 2026 engine to the old/current spec?
• I think I have read that Mercedes has stated they are already pivoting away from the current spec from a manufacturing perspective and have no interest
• Alpine is done as a supplier. Why would they extend another year?
• What does a one year delay buy? Time for those unprepared to improve their solutions (cough Red Bull). Why would the other power unit manufactures (and associated teams) provide that helping hand at great pain to themselves?

The timing is interesting. It seems this idea has it's roots in the FIA and maybe those who have voiced support (Red Bull). And FOM just recently announced that the 2026-2030 Concorde Agreement has been signed by everyone! Well everyone but the FIA. Is the FIA using this message of FUD with respect to 2026+ as leverage somehow?

Richard

[TeamKoolGreen]

It would be a godsend if these rules were scrapped or even delayed. But it isn't going to happen. The VW group is already pouting. They will prevent it. And then sell the whole team to the Saudis 6 months later.

2026 wasn't even supposed to be a chassis regs change at all. Just engine regs were up. But the VW basically held the sport hostage with their demands that they dreamt up at a marketing board meeting. "50% electric!" And that meant a chassis change and some Frankenstein aero to make the weaker power unit work. Since then, Porsche backed out and Audi has given mixed signals at best.

And in the meantime, F1 lost Renault. Renault was a big pusher of the 2014 hybrids. But they got whooped by Mercedes for a decade so now they want out. Maybe complicated and expensive engines wasn't a good idea after all. This is probably what will happen again.

[Holm86]

I don't see the regulations being delayed as of now, but I've said it years ago, and I'll say it again, the 2026 engine regulations won't survive for long. They are too poorly constructed, and I think they will recieve a major overhaul at some point, or changed completely. Would be pretty nice if they would actually go for the rumored comeback og V10's on carbon neutral fuels from 2028.
A naturally aspirated V10 would be way cheaper, lighter and sound better, and im sure that would attract other engine makers, such as Cosworth. Perhaps some of the big ones will pull out, because they don't see the road relevance of such engines, but so what.

[Zynerji]

Closest Qualifying in years for 2025.

Let's scrap the close racing and jump right into the 2026 (boring) pecking order. Maybe 2029 will be as close as this year then?

[Holm86]

Closest Qualifying in years for 2025.

Let's scrap the close racing and jump right into the 2026 (boring) pecking order. Maybe 2029 will be as close as this year then?

That's been a massive problem for FIA for decades.
Whenever teams adjust to current regulations, and actually start to get close to each other, FIA introduces new regulations resetting everything

[CMSMJ1]

No. Why would it?

[TeamKoolGreen]

Closest Qualifying in years for 2025.

Let's scrap the close racing and jump right into the 2026 (boring) pecking order. Maybe 2029 will be as close as this year then?

Since it is the power units and chassis, it would probably take way longer. Maybe that is why they are talking about changing it after a couple years. Don't even bother waiting for everyone to catch up.

Since 2024, F1 has had a good product. It won't be very good after 2026. And they will feel it in their pocketbook. Maybe after they lose a bunch of money, they will focus on future proofing the formula.

[Chuckjr]

I would love to see it changed to V10’s and just leave the current regs till 28. It’s great competition right now and I’m really enjoying the competitive racing. They’ve already been working on and dumping gobs of money into the 2026 engine for a while now tho, and of course the basic chassis and aero design has gotta be at least sculpted for 2026 power units by now with all the fundamental changes, sizes, weights, and aero gadgets to accommodate them. I don’t see Merc or Honda or Audi going along with any change. It’s, imo, far too late. Happy to be wrong tho.

[basti313]

I would love to see it changed to V10’s and just leave the current regs till 28.

I would love to see this too, but how would you guys solve these issues:
- Audi, RedBull and Racing Bulls without engine
- Alpine and Aston with major rework to get the new engine into the old car
- Cadillac without car

So, more than half the field is strongly compromised with a regulations elongation especially if they can not score a deal with the current engine suppliers. Which is dfficult, as the lead time is long, if Honda for example would supply three teams next year, they would need to start purchasing now. Basically all engine manufactureres would need to switch the 2026 planning now.

I do not see how this can happen without most contracts already done...and there is no sign in chatty F1 rumors.

[r85]

I don't see the regulations being delayed as of now, but I've said it years ago, and I'll say it again, the 2026 engine regulations won't survive for long. They are too poorly constructed, and I think they will recieve a major overhaul at some point, or changed completely. Would be pretty nice if they would actually go for the rumored comeback og V10's on carbon neutral fuels from 2028.
A naturally aspirated V10 would be way cheaper, lighter and sound better, and im sure that would attract other engine makers, such as Cosworth. Perhaps some of the big ones will pull out, because they don't see the road relevance of such engines, but so what.

We might as well go back to something like the V8 engines with KERS. The implementation of hybrid technology is the problem, not the technology itself.

[Holm86]

I don't see the regulations being delayed as of now, but I've said it years ago, and I'll say it again, the 2026 engine regulations won't survive for long. They are too poorly constructed, and I think they will recieve a major overhaul at some point, or changed completely. Would be pretty nice if they would actually go for the rumored comeback og V10's on carbon neutral fuels from 2028.
A naturally aspirated V10 would be way cheaper, lighter and sound better, and im sure that would attract other engine makers, such as Cosworth. Perhaps some of the big ones will pull out, because they don't see the road relevance of such engines, but so what.

We might as well go back to something like the V8 engines with KERS. The implementation of hybrid technology is the problem, not the technology itself.

No thanks, I want lighter cars, absolutely no need for a heavy electric motor and battery

[basti313]

I don't see the regulations being delayed as of now, but I've said it years ago, and I'll say it again, the 2026 engine regulations won't survive for long. They are too poorly constructed, and I think they will recieve a major overhaul at some point, or changed completely. Would be pretty nice if they would actually go for the rumored comeback og V10's on carbon neutral fuels from 2028.
A naturally aspirated V10 would be way cheaper, lighter and sound better, and im sure that would attract other engine makers, such as Cosworth. Perhaps some of the big ones will pull out, because they don't see the road relevance of such engines, but so what.

We might as well go back to something like the V8 engines with KERS. The implementation of hybrid technology is the problem, not the technology itself.

No thanks, I want lighter cars, absolutely no need for a heavy electric motor and battery

So why a V10? Would be roughly double the weight of a R4 Turbo...
Futhermore: A proper Hybrid system like the initial KERS has a weight penalty of 30kg and much more power on modern architecture than back then. As seen in Indy car, this improves racing, generates interesting overtaking options. I would always rather sack DRS for an interesting KERS, maybe electronically replicating the necessary Mario Kart feature of it.

[Richard C]

We might as well go back to something like the V8 engines with KERS. The implementation of hybrid technology is the problem, not the technology itself.

No thanks, I want lighter cars, absolutely no need for a heavy electric motor and battery

So why a V10? Would be roughly double the weight of a R4 Turbo...
Futhermore: A proper Hybrid system like the initial KERS has a weight penalty of 30kg and much more power on modern architecture than back then. As seen in Indy car, this improves racing, generates interesting overtaking options. I would always rather sack DRS for an interesting KERS, maybe electronically replicating the necessary Mario Kart feature of it.

Your not asking me, but will swing at an answer...

Why V10? Nostalgia for the previous NA V10. Not that anything is wrong with that. Regarding "only 30kg". If the sport is looking to reduce weight then it all adds up and it all has to be considered for a diet. If we wanted to drop car weight 100kg, then the 30kg is almost 1/3 of that answer. Granted it does provide band-aid for passing difficulty and a small KERS could be part of a future solution.

Richard

[basti313]

No thanks, I want lighter cars, absolutely no need for a heavy electric motor and battery

So why a V10? Would be roughly double the weight of a R4 Turbo...
Futhermore: A proper Hybrid system like the initial KERS has a weight penalty of 30kg and much more power on modern architecture than back then. As seen in Indy car, this improves racing, generates interesting overtaking options. I would always rather sack DRS for an interesting KERS, maybe electronically replicating the necessary Mario Kart feature of it.

Your not asking me, but will swing at an answer...

Why V10? Nostalgia for the previous NA V10. Not that anything is wrong with that. Regarding "only 30kg". If the sport is looking to reduce weight then it all adds up and it all has to be considered for a diet. If we wanted to drop car weight 100kg, then the 30kg is almost 1/3 of that answer. Granted it does provide band-aid for passing difficulty and a small KERS could be part of a future solution.

Richard

Well, the less fancy materials in the 2026 engine add around 15kg on the V6 alone. The same happened on the V8 to V6 change, the ICE simply got heavier even though it was smaller. If you look at the current regs...the increase to a V10 on the same material is simply heavier than all the Hybrid stuff. I would expect a V10 easily crosses 200kg, while the V6 turbo next year has a min weight of 130kg. ES + MGUK is currently at around 40kg...
V10 just does not work without adding substantial weight.