F1 Teams Face New Aero Testing Restrictions for 2026 Season Start
Formula 1 has set the aerodynamic testing limits for the first half of 2026, with McLaren most restricted and Alpine & Cadillac most free. Haas gains a significant 10% boost, while Red Bull, Racing Bulls, and Aston Martin face cuts, shaping the early development race for the new-generation cars.
The aerodynamic testing limits for the first half of 2026 have been set, with champion McLaren facing the tightest restrictions and Alpine and new entrant Cadillac receiving the most development freedom. These allocations, based on the final 2025 championship standings, will shape the initial competitive landscape as teams finalize their radically new 2026 cars.
Why it matters:
The Aero Testing Restrictions (ATR) act as a performance-balancing mechanism, limiting how much wind tunnel and CFD simulation time each team can use. With Formula 1 introducing sweeping new technical regulations in 2026, these early development caps are crucial. They can either help a struggling team close the gap or hinder a top team's ability to refine its concept before the mid-season reset, directly influencing the pecking order at the season's start.
The details:
The ATR sliding scale, refreshed twice a year, dictates a team's maximum allowed wind tunnel runs and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) items. For the period beginning January 1, 2026:
- McLaren, as the 2025 constructors' champion, faces the most severe restrictions.
- Alpine (10th in 2025) and the new Cadillac team receive the largest allowances.
- Five teams have seen their allocations change compared to the second half of 2025 due to shifts in the championship order.
By the numbers:
The most significant changes stem from position changes in the final 2025 standings:
- Haas gained a 10% ATR boost after falling from 6th to 8th place. This translates to 32 more wind tunnel runs and 200 more CFD items.
- Ferrari also received a boost after slipping from 3rd to 4th.
- Three teams face an ATR reduction for gaining a position: Red Bull (4th to 3rd), Racing Bulls (7th to 6th), and Aston Martin (8th to 7th). Each now has 16 fewer wind tunnel runs and 100 fewer CFD items.
What's next:
These restrictions define the maximum resources teams can use, but efficient utilization is key. A larger allowance could help a lower-ranked team make significant early gains on the 2026 car before the ATR resets again in July based on the 2026 championship order. The first pre-season test in Barcelona will reveal how effectively each squad has used its allocated development time to interpret the new regulations.