The new weight limit for F1 cars in the 2026 rules era has been set at 768kg, down by 32kg from the current 800kg limit, primarily achieved through size reductions and narrower tires.
However, the FIA desires to further decrease car weight for a better on-track spectacle, prompting a shift towards a simpler engine formula in the future.
With a heavier reliance on electric power anticipated in 2026, teams face the challenge of reaching the stringent weight targets, considering every additional 10kg impacts performance by three tenths per second.
Team bosses like Red Bull’s Christian Horner acknowledge the significant challenge of meeting the weight limit and the costly endeavor of saving weight, with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff emphasizing the need for teams to make strategic decisions on weight allocation for optimal performance.
The industry consensus is that approaching the weight limit will be a key performance differentiator at the dawn of the 2026 F1 era, as teams grapple with design choices to achieve the ambitious weight goal.
