P1racenews AI automatic summary:
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has torpedoed claims that the all-new 2026 Formula 1 cars will be much closer in performance to current F2 machinery
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis dismissed claims that the 2026 Formula 1 cars would perform similarly to current F2 machinery.
Despite Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar stating that the 2026 cars feel closer to F2 in terms of performance, FIA laptime simulations indicate otherwise.
Next year’s cars will have new power units with a balance of V6 and electrical power, making energy management crucial.
Chassis regulations aim to reduce drag and adjust aero for different sections of the track.
Tombazis mentioned a expected lap time reduction of only one to two seconds initially, emphasizing the need for gradual development.
The gap in performance between F1 and F2 cars at Bahrain is expected to remain around 13 seconds even with the planned reductions in lap times.
