P1racenews AI automatic summary:
There are big divergences in how F1 teams are tackling the most critical areas of the 2026 rules, as Mark Hughes explains
The 2026 Formula 1 generation focuses on aerodynamic themes of outwash and inwash.
Teams have already shown different design approaches at the Barcelona shakedown, indicating their strategies for the upcoming races in Bahrain and Melbourne.
One key regulation change involves ‘inwashing’ boards at the front corners of the floor beneath the sidepods, aimed at reducing outwash to create a cleaner wake for following cars.
Teams are motivated to counteract the regulatory intention as outwash typically brings better performance, leading to innovative design solutions by each team.
The design variations in response to the inwash regulation include changes in cockpit and front axle positioning, front wing design, nose design, sidepod design, and the board geometry.
Teams like McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Aston Martin exhibit significant differences in their design choices, particularly in positioning the cockpit relative to the front axle and optimizing nose height to enhance underfloor airflow efficiency.
