The dramatic 2025 Formula 1 season has come to an end with Lando Norris winning the coveted F1 title.
With the arrival of 2026, the sport will witness a new era of technical regulations, grid changes, team transformations and calendar changes.
According to BBC Sports, these are the main changes fans can expect in the upcoming 2026 season.
A new era of technical regulations
According to the technical regulations, the cars will be smaller, lighter, more agile and more environmentally friendly. Cars will be 30kg lighter than last season, with dimensions 10cm narrower and a shorter wheelbase, which will be reduced by 200mm to 3400mm.
The season will also be accompanied by new aerodynamic rules. Movable front and rear wings have been introduced to control downforce and drag. The 2022-2025 ground effect philosophy is abandoned.
Total downforce will be reduced by 30 percent and air resistance by 55 percent compared to the 2022-2025 car generation.
As for the revolutionary changes in the power unit, the engine remains a 1.6-liter V6 turbo hybrid. The power distribution between the hybrid part and the combustion engine will each be 50 percent.
Changes in drivers
Most drivers will remain the same in the 2026 Formula 1 season. But few changes are expected. Frenchman Isack Hadjar replaces Yuki Tsunoda as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull.
At Red Bull, 18-year-old Arvid Lindbald will replace Isack Hadjar.
Grid changes: Paradigm shift in teams
The grid will expand from 10 to 11 teams with significant power unit partnerships.
Cadillac, backed by the American car giant, will participate in the season as the eleventh team on the grid. For drivers, they opt for experience over youth with the selection of Valtteri Bottas (10 F1 wins) and Sergio Perez (6 F1 wins).
Initially, Cadillac will use the Ferrari powerplant, which will be replaced by GM-developed engines later in 2029.
Team transformation: Sauber acquired by Audi
The Sauber team has been completely taken over by Audi. The first Audi line-up consists of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. Jonathan Wheatley will become team principal and will work alongside Mattia Binotto, head of the F1 project.
The return of Ford
Red Bull enters into a partnership with American car giant Ford for engines, ending its partnership with Honda.
On the other hand, Renault’s engines will be at a standstill now that the company has ended its F1 engine program. The Alpine team will use Mercedes engines.
Calendar changes
- The 2026 F1 calendar will feature 24 races. The Spanish Grand Prix race will take place from September 11 to 13 in Madrid and will replace the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
- Barcelona remains on the calendar as the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix (June 12-14).
- The Canadian Grand Prix will be changed and move from June to May 22-24.
- The Monaco Grand Prix will be moved from May to June 5 and 7.
Six circuits will be chosen for sprint events, including China, Canada, Miami, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Singapore.
