P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 Explained: What is the 107 per cent rule and why is it a major factor again in 2026?
The 2026 F1 season is amidst significant regulation changes impacting power units and car chassis, alongside old rules that may gain relevance in the future.
Recent seasons have seen closer competition between top and smaller teams, owing partly to the cost cap implemented since the hybrid era of 2014.
However, extensive regulation alterations and the entry of new teams could widen the performance gap in 2026.
The potential return of the 107 per cent rule, which mandates cars to be within that margin of the fastest lap time during qualifying to start a race, may be crucial under these circumstances.
New team entries like Audi and Cadillac, with the latter anticipating challenges due to being a novice entity and potential performance issues, might struggle to meet the 107 per cent requirement and make the race grid in 2026.
