2026 car comparisons

[Badger]

All the cars we've seen on track so far and the best images available.



Cadillac

Audi


So far I'd say Merc looks the most advanced in terms of tight packaging and innovative bits. Second is VCARB. Third Alpine.

[chlebekf1]

Mercedes 1 Alpine 2

[Badger]

[lio007]

I think with Cadillac, Ferrari and Merc we have 3 teams having a diffuser opening.

Cadillac

[vorticism]

Merc and Ferrari:
-Similar sidepod undercuts
-Front wings preferencing installation stiffness. Merc centered the pylons within the wing area by way of the second element, which limits the FWAS to a single element. Ferrari carries both the center and the front of the wing area by way of a large first element, which allows a smaller two-element FWAS

All cars:
-They have the new side indicators. Very visible on the Ferrari. Little rectangular LED lights.

[Giando]

where i've seen those Ferrari and Mercedes sidepod shape before?

mmmm

[f1316]

where i've seen those Ferrari and Mercedes sidepod shape before?

mmmm

https://i.ibb.co/cKw2sGSK/Screenshot-20 ... -39-32.png

Yes, I’ve said this a few places but there’s definite trend towards the “coanda” style sidepods from 2012/13 (of the McLaren variety) this year. I guess it makes sense that they want to feed the diffuser airflow in a similar sense to how they wanted to feed it hot exhaust gases, but I do now wonder if it’s this diffuser “hole” trick that has pushed them in that direction now.

[vorticism]

You both raise an interesting point, to me at least. Those Coanda type sidepods lofted the exhaust over top the inflow arriving from the undercut. If they end up using big cooling louvers or sidepod cannons it might again be a way to loft a heated airstream over the undercut inwash. Not necessarily to energize the diffuser but simply to steer the efflux through the rear suspension members which cause drag & turbulence anyway, so why not blast them with the radiator efflux while the diffuser gets clean undercut inwash. If the Meredith effect can be achieved below 300kph via tuned, short path ducting (sidepod cannons, f.e.) then the radiator outflow could be slightly more energetic than ambient airflow, in which case, maybe you would want them to feed the diffuser. Radiator blown diffuser.

All told I see one major potential differentiation available across teams: a FWAS that has either one, two, or four rotating flaps. Another less visible one will be the choice to use a hydraulic piston or an electromechanical actuator.

Already all three FWAS variations have been seen.
VCARB: 4-element
Ferrari: 2-element
Mercedes: 1-element

Correct me if I'm wrong but the regulations seem to indicate the there are also three potential rear wing variations:
1-element rear wing with no RWAS
2-element rear wing with 1-element RWAS
3-element rear wing with 2-element RWAS (all we've seen yet)