FIA Reassures Drivers: 2026 F1 Cars to Be Less Physically Demanding

The FIA's single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis, has moved to allay concerns from drivers, stating that the 2026 Formula 1 cars will be less physically demanding than the current generation. This comes after several drivers expressed relief at the prospect of moving on from the current cars, which have caused significant physical discomfort, especially during the porpoising era of their inaugural year.

Why it matters:

The physical toll on drivers has been a notable downside of the current ground-effect regulations, impacting performance and well-being. The FIA's commitment to addressing this issue for 2026 is crucial for driver health and the long-term appeal of the sport, ensuring that raw driving talent remains the primary factor, not just physical endurance against car design flaws.

The details:

• Drivers have widely voiced their dissatisfaction with the physical demands of current cars, citing issues like back problems from constant bouncing, particularly during the early days of porpoising.
• Tombazis acknowledged that the main issue stems from cars running "very low and very stiff," a characteristic not fully anticipated when the current regulations were drafted.
• Aerodynamic Philosophy: While 2026 cars will still favor low-running setups for aerodynamics, this will be "far less aggressively" than the current generation.
  • Tombazis stated, "The natural direction of the aerodynamics for next year still favours low-running cars more than high-running cars — but not by the same amount."
• Softer Setup: The FIA believes the 2026 cars will operate with a "bit softer overall" setup to achieve mechanical grip, contrasting with the rigid nature of current cars.
  • "The slope of aerodynamics versus ride height is reduced, which means that the optimum will be a bit higher, and the cars will be running, we believe, a bit softer overall," Tombazis explained.
• This prediction awaits confirmation once the cars hit the track, but initial indications suggest an improvement in driver comfort.

What's next:

The true test of these new regulations and their impact on driver comfort will come once the 2026 cars are developed and tested. While the FIA's assurances are positive, the real-world performance and physical demands will only be fully understood when teams begin on-track operations. The hope is for a more driver-friendly generation of F1 machinery that maintains the spectacle of high-performance racing without excessive physical strain.