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F1 has introduced the official language that will be used to explain the intricate details of its revolutionary 2026 technical rules.

The championship is embarking on what is potentially the biggest regulation change in its long history next season, featuring revised car and engine specifications and the required adoption of fully sustainable fuels.

The updated 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids, which retain the 1.6-litre V6 configuration, boast a significantly increased battery power, necessitating significant developments in the aero packages.

Over a race distance, pilots will strategically manage ERS energy – including during flying laps – to secure the peak result.

Extensive fan consultation were conducted with a diverse audience, including new, casual and core fans, to identify which terminology would improve understanding of the main elements of the new regulations.

The key objective was to make a set of intricate new areas of the sport as easy to grasp as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, initial designations for certain devices – such as "x-mode and z-mode" for the adjustable aero – have been abandoned in preference for descriptive names that clearly indicate the real-world effect of the technology.

Key Technical Innovations

According to rule-makers that competitors will have more power to determine tactics regarding power usage, regeneration, and saving energy.

The upcoming changes mandate a range of settings that will be clearly indicated on broadcast screens to aid the audience's understanding of the race battle.

• Overtake Mode: This replaces the current DRS. It provides a burst of extra electrical energy deployable when a driver is within one second the car ahead to assist with an overtaking maneuver.
• Extra Push Mode: This is a driver-operated energy deployment from the energy recovery system that can be utilized during overtaking or defending. It grants the pilot maximum power at the click of a switch.

Both of these key functions will have to be deployed strategically, as the total energy is strictly limited.

• Active Aerodynamics: Both the nose and rear wings move automatically – flattening on the high-speed sections for low aerodynamic resistance and increased velocity, and closing in the bends for peak grip.
• Recharge: Drivers can replenish their battery with energy harvested under braking, or during coasting at the end of straights or in corners where only partial power is required.

Car Design Evolution

The next-generation machines will be more compact and lighter relative to current models, with a car length shortened by 200mm to 3,400mm, car width reduced by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the car weight lowered by 30kg.

Overall downforce is expected to drop by approximately a significant margin, although constructors will inevitably claw this back as they optimize their packages.

Drag has been slashed by 40%. The vehicles will utilize adjustable aero systems – both wings will move on the straight sections to reduce drag and increase straightline speed and revert into place for optimal grip in corners.

Wheels will retain the current rim size, but the actual tyres will be slimmer, by 25mm at the front and three centimetres on the rear.

Power Unit Revolution

The new power units will have an roughly half-and-half distribution in power produced by the ICE and the ERS, increasing from about one-fifth electric power under present rules.

The energy recovery system is simplified through the deletion of the MGU-H, the sophisticated and pricey component that generated electricity from the turbocharger.

Every car on the grid will be required to run on fully sustainable fuel, produced using biomass or lab-created processes.