FIA's Tombazis Warns Teams of 'Woeful Misery' with 2026 Rule Overhaul

FIA single-seater director Nicolas Tombazis has warned F1 teams that the massive 2026 regulatory overhaul could plunge some squads into "woeful misery." With new power units and aerodynamic rules set to reshape the grid, teams are developing "in the dark," facing a "psychologically draining" uncertainty over whether they will emerge as contenders or backmarkers.

Why it matters:

The 2026 changes represent one of the biggest technical shake-ups in F1 history, designed to close the performance gap and create closer racing. However, the scale of the change means a small miscalculation in concept or execution could have devastating consequences, potentially reshaping the entire pecking order and leaving established teams struggling for years.

The details:

• Tombazis, drawing from his past experiences at McLaren and Ferrari, emphasized the core challenge: "You don’t know where the others are." This lack of a benchmark makes it impossible to gauge if a team needs to find a second of lap time or if they are already ahead of the curve.
• The FIA official described this period as the "angst of the unknown," which he believes is "psychologically very draining" for team personnel who have invested years into their new projects.
• The regulations, which introduce new power units and a significant aerodynamic shift, have been in development for years. Tombazis confirmed the FIA is working closely with teams "right to this moment" to resolve minor issues and tie up any loose ends before the new era begins.

What's next:

The true impact of these regulations won't be known until the 2026 season opener at the Australian Grand Prix. Until then, teams will continue their high-stakes development work, hoping their interpretation of the new rules will prove correct and that they can avoid the "woeful misery" Tombazis warned of.