2026 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, March 06 - 08

[FittingMechanics]

We will see the racing tomorrow. If the racing is exciting with lot of overtakes then we are stuck with this.

If it sucks then next rule set is much more likely to go in opposite direction, maybe no electrical components but sustainable fuels.

IMO, the issue isn’t hybridization itself as most manufacturers are already moving that way for road relevance. The real problem is the 50/50 power split forced into a tiny battery. 50/50 hybrid energy management like in IMO LMP1 gold era (2014–2016) can create interesting racing, but that doesn't translate well to a sprint series like F1.

The MGUK is now so powerful that it drains the battery almost instantly. We've ended up with patches like the active aero just to compensate for this massive energy deficit.

IMO going forward, manufacturers need to bend and realize F1 cannot be 100% aligned with their corporate needs. I believe thata larger, naturally aspirated V6 with a more modest 30–40% electric split would preserve F1 nature. Without geting rid of energy management as part of the strategic battle, but, at the same time, without making the driver a passanger to execute engineers commands.

These regulations feel were a bet on the total electrification hype post-covid. Now manufacturers are now realizing that was a strategic overreach, you just need to look at the latest quarterly earnings from Merc. A total disaster.

I completely agree. I think that the major mistake for this ruleset is that the battery is smaller than allowed recharge per lap, meaning that even in qualifying you will have to recharge.

Imagine if instead of having to recharge during qualifying, these cars had 11-12 MJ battery that they would fill up before starting the lap. It would mean we have qualifying laps on the edge that would be super fast. Most of the complaints about qualifying would be gone. It would also open up the possibility that certain teams are much better in races than in qualifying, as qualifying would have no recharge at all.

If increasing the size of the battery is too costly (weight wise), then they could play along with either reducing size of other electrical components to allow a bigger battery or just reducing the allowed recharge per lap. Obviously you can do some other things as well, front axle regen and similar but all of those seem like bigger changes then just fine tuning battery size and allowed recharge per lap.

60-40 or 70-30 split with a battery that is big enough to last for the whole qualifying lap would be a pretty decent compromise.

[bluechris]

We will see the racing tomorrow. If the racing is exciting with lot of overtakes then we are stuck with this.

If it sucks then next rule set is much more likely to go in opposite direction, maybe no electrical components but sustainable fuels.

I believe the race will be good as matter that it will be F1WWE if you are into this and it will be a 2 tier race, MB's fighting each with DarthToto lightsaber ready for action to control things (he learned his lesson from old days) and the rest championship.

[jacme22]

They pushed themselves into a corner, because a larger battery it's dead weight during a race if you cannot recharge it fully. And this is again because some manufacturers ditched the idea of a front wheel mguk and, at the same time, they were forced to drop the mguh. How they thought this was going to work well.

I wonder how technically feasable would be to incoporate a front wheel generator to help with recharging next year.

[astracrazy]

The things that annoys me is the people still trying to peddle this into a positive. I saw Brundle on about we have always had to manage something in F1. This isn't managing it lol there isn't enough to manage. The battery runs out and thats that.

I can't imagine anyone using overtake mode tomorrow, surely.

[Hoffman900]

The things that annoys me is the people still trying to peddle this into a positive. I saw Brundle on about we have always had to manage something in F1. This isn't managing it lol there isn't enough to manage. The battery runs out and thats that.

I can't imagine anyone using overtake mode tomorrow, surely.

They’re paid hype guys. People turning off F1 is bad news for Sky and their advertisers too.

[TeamKoolGreen]

We will see the racing tomorrow. If the racing is exciting with lot of overtakes then we are stuck with this.

If it sucks then next rule set is much more likely to go in opposite direction, maybe no electrical components but sustainable fuels.

We haven't even seen the worst of these regulations. That will happen tomorrow. The cars will not be able to follow or race at all.

Nobody is ready for how flat the racing will be after getting used to venturi floors for 4 years. There was hardly any true overtakes in practice. Cars from the big 4 teams were having problems passing bottom 4 cars.

Flat floors , no wheel brows , no rear wing optimized for clean air. Minimal slip stream , no DRS, and an energy negative push to pass system.

The worst is yet to come. But hey, we can always watch F2. They still have venturi floors and the race yesterday was great because of it

[djos]

I have to say, I tuned in expecting to hear the Sky F1 crew, specifically Brundle, be, let's say, very negative, about these new rules. 2014, he in particular, went on at length about not liking those engines, not liking the noise etc.

Instead, all positive, even framing the super clipping with things like 'oh he's down shifting now so he can really rocket out the next corner!'

Now, I do think the moaning in 2014 was a bit much, and it makes sense not to have one of your primary broadcasters talking the sport down, but I am left wondering if they've been told, whether by Sky, Liberty or both, that they aren't allowed to moan, essentially...

In general, my view so far is I like the new cars, look good, smaller, more nimble etc, but they need to do something about the super clipping.

In real life, the cars mostly sound better and are louder - it doesn't come through on the TV tho.

[Seanspeed]

They've finally neutered F1. I hate these cars. I can't stand watching a car super clipping, it's sad

I feel so bad for Codemasters, having to make an F1 game with these cars and regulations. lol

Unless they just completely ignore accuracy of the electrical limits, nobody is gonna want to play F1 2026.

[venkyhere]

bigger capacity battery doesn't just mean weight (well, even for weight there is a point of diminishing returns, where beyond a critical weight, the extra benefit from more stored charge and faster discharge won't be useful because the tyres are non linear and do not offer infinite grip) , the bigger battery also means impossible packaging with current dimensions and will need a bigger car, which in turn contributes to more weight in turn.
The solution is two fold :
1) go back to 80:20 ratio of peak ICE power : peak electrical power
2) go for better battery tech instead of this dinosaur one 'standardized' by the FIA, It will pack more charge for less weight, allowing for smaller and lighter cars

[Mcl_G10]

New regulations are junk.

Seing cars lifting off, sector times useless and the guy with the most energy wins.

Not worth watching, I'll probably just check the results on the phone tbh.

[FittingMechanics]

We will see the racing tomorrow. If the racing is exciting with lot of overtakes then we are stuck with this.

If it sucks then next rule set is much more likely to go in opposite direction, maybe no electrical components but sustainable fuels.

We haven't even seen the worst of these regulations. That will happen tomorrow. The cars will not be able to follow or race at all.

Nobody is ready for how flat the racing will be after getting used to venturi floors for 4 years. There was hardly any true overtakes in practice. Cars from the big 4 teams were having problems passing bottom 4 cars.

Flat floors , no wheel brows , no rear wing optimized for clean air. Minimal slip stream , no DRS, and an energy negative push to pass system.

The worst is yet to come. But hey, we can always watch F2. They still have venturi floors and the race yesterday was great because of it

I think you are wrong. 2025 cars were very bad for racing.

These cars will be able to have huge differences in power/speed on various spots on the track, it will lead to more overtaking but I bet you won't accept that as you'd see it as a gimmick.

Won't be too long for us to see that. Max starts from the back, perfect guy to showcase it.

[TeamKoolGreen]

Why are the customer Mercedes teams struggling so hard ? In 2014, the Claire Williams era cars were frequently qualifying in the top 5.

Alonso almost out qualified Mercedes powered customer cars yesterday. So much for being simpler PU's. Simpler they are not. They are more fickle than ever.

[FittingMechanics]

bigger capacity battery doesn't just mean weight (well, even for weight there is a point of diminishing returns, where beyond a critical weight, the extra benefit from more stored charge and faster discharge won't be useful because the tyres are non linear and do not offer infinite grip) , the bigger battery also means impossible packaging with current dimensions and will need a bigger car, which in turn contributes to more weight in turn.
The solution is two fold :
1) go back to 80:20 ratio of peak ICE power : peak electrical power
2) go for better battery tech instead of this dinosaur one 'standardized' by the FIA, It will pack more charge for less weight, allowing for smaller and lighter cars

Why would you need to change dimensions? Most of these cars are super tight, big undercuts, massive amounts of open floor area. I don't buy that at all.

[PlatinumZealot]

We will see the racing tomorrow. If the racing is exciting with lot of overtakes then we are stuck with this.

If it sucks then next rule set is much more likely to go in opposite direction, maybe no electrical components but sustainable fuels.

IMO, the issue isn’t hybridization itself as most manufacturers are already moving that way for road relevance. The real problem is the 50/50 power split forced into a tiny battery. 50/50 hybrid energy management like in IMO LMP1 gold era (2014–2016) can create interesting racing, but that doesn't translate well to a sprint series like F1.

The MGUK is now so powerful that it drains the battery almost instantly. We've ended up with patches like the active aero just to compensate for this massive energy deficit.

IMO going forward, manufacturers need to bend and realize F1 cannot be 100% aligned with their corporate needs. I believe thata larger, naturally aspirated V6 with a more modest 30–40% electric split would preserve F1 nature. Without geting rid of energy management as part of the strategic battle, but, at the same time, without making the driver a passanger to execute engineers commands.

These regulations feel were a bet on the total electrification hype post-covid. Now manufacturers are now realizing that was a strategic overreach, you just need to look at the latest quarterly earnings from Merc. A total disaster.

I completely agree. I think that the major mistake for this ruleset is that the battery is smaller than allowed recharge per lap, meaning that even in qualifying you will have to recharge.

Imagine if instead of having to recharge during qualifying, these cars had 11-12 MJ battery that they would fill up before starting the lap. It would mean we have qualifying laps on the edge that would be super fast. Most of the complaints about qualifying would be gone. It would also open up the possibility that certain teams are much better in races than in qualifying, as qualifying would have no recharge at all.

If increasing the size of the battery is too costly (weight wise), then they could play along with either reducing size of other electrical components to allow a bigger battery or just reducing the allowed recharge per lap. Obviously you can do some other things as well, front axle regen and similar but all of those seem like bigger changes then just fine tuning battery size and allowed recharge per lap.

60-40 or 70-30 split with a battery that is big enough to last for the whole qualifying lap would be a pretty decent compromise.

It is easier to increase the fuel flow rate to the ICE. Slowing the cars down or front wheel braking is too much of a change for this year.

More ICE power would solve most of the issues.
Previous rules in qualifying trim it was ICE 840hp MGUK 160hp; that is a ratio of 83% to 17%.
Now it is 540hp to 470hp; a ratio of 53% to 47%.

The ICE fuel flow rate increase might roast the turbos lol but that can be solved with new turbo wheels. Not a hard thing. Let's sat increase ICE power to 720hp. That might actually be super punchy and gives more scope to cut the MGUK peak power down to say 300 kW (stop us from slowing the cars down).

[FittingMechanics]

It is easier to increase the fuel flow rate to the ICE. Slowing the cars down or front wheel braking is too much of a change for this year.

More ICE power would solve most of the issues.
Previous rules in qualifying trim it was ICE 840hp MGUK 160hp; that is a ratio of 83% to 17%.
Now it is 540hp to 470hp; a ratio of 53% to 47%.

The ICE fuel flow rate increase might roast the turbos lol but that can be solved with new turbo wheels. Not a hard thing. Let's sat increase ICE power to 720hp. That might actually be super punchy and gives more scope to cut the MGUK peak power down to say 300 kW (stop us from slowing the cars down).

Increasing fuel rate probably means redesigning the engines. I don't think it's a simple change at all. Battery size increase is probably simplest way you can "solve" qualifying. Bigger battery would be heavier and require more cooling but these seem simpler and quicker then engine fuel flow change.

720hp + 400hp (300kw) would make these cars too fast.