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The world of Formula 1 has unveiled the new terminology that will be used to explain the technical complexities of its revolutionary 2026 technical rules.

The sport is embarking on what is arguably the biggest technical shift in its long history next season, featuring revised car and engine specifications and the required adoption of eco-friendly fuels.

The revised engines, which retain the 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid, boast a significantly increased electrical capacity, necessitating key advancements in the cars' aerodynamics.

During grand prix events, pilots will carefully oversee battery power – sometimes even hot laps – to extract the best performance.

Extensive fan consultation were carried out with a mix of viewers, including new, casual and core fans, to determine which terms would aid comprehension of the key features of the 2026 changes.

The key objective was to present a series of complex new areas of the competition as easy to grasp as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, previous placeholder terms for some systems – such as "modes labelled X and Z" for the active aerodynamics – have been abandoned in favor of descriptive names that directly explain the primary purpose of the technology.

What's the New Technology?

Regulators explain that competitors will have more power to choose strategies regarding battery management, harvesting, and saving energy.

The upcoming changes introduce a range of settings that will be shown on TV overlays to aid the viewers' comprehension of the race battle.

• Attack Mode: This replaces the current DRS. It provides a surge of additional ERS power deployable when a car is less than a second the car ahead to facilitate an overtaking maneuver.
• Boost Mode: This is a on-demand battery discharge from the energy recovery system that can be utilized during attack or defence. It grants the pilot full engine and battery energy at the click of a switch.

Both of these crucial modes will have to be used with calculation, as the overall battery capacity is restricted.

• Active Aero: Both the front and rear wings adjust their angles – spreading on the straights for minimal air resistance and higher speed, and closing in the corners for maximum downforce.
• Energy Harvesting: Drivers can replenish their battery with energy harvested under braking, or during partial power application at the end of straights or in corners where only partial power is required.

Car Design Evolution

The 2026 cars will be more compact and lighter than this year, with a distance between axles shortened by 200mm to 3,400mm, width reduced by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the car weight decreased by 30kg.

Total aerodynamic grip is anticipated to be reduced by approximately 15-30%, although teams will inevitably claw this back as they refine their designs.

Drag has been reduced by 40%. The vehicles will feature adjustable aero systems – both wings will adjust on the straights to improve speed and boost top speed and return into place for maximum cornering performance.

Tyres will continue to use the current rim size, but the actual tyres will be slimmer, by 25mm at the front and 30mm at the rear.

2026 Engine Regulations

The 2026 engines will have an roughly half-and-half distribution in energy output by the internal combustion engine and the ERS, a rise from about 20% electrical under present rules.

The energy recovery system is made less complex through the elimination of the MGU-H, the intricate and expensive unit that generated electricity from the turbocharger.

All vehicles will be obliged to compete on fully sustainable fuel, created from organic sources or synthetic industrial processes.