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F1 has revealed the official terminology that will be used to describe the intricate details of its upcoming 2026 technical rules.

The sport is implementing what is potentially the biggest technical shift in its competitive history next season, featuring revised car and engine specifications and the mandatory use of eco-friendly fuels.

The updated 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids, which keep the hybrid V6 layout, boast a significantly increased energy storage, requiring key advancements in the aero packages.

Over a race distance, pilots will strategically manage ERS energy – sometimes even qualifying laps – to secure the best performance.

Wide-ranging research were carried out with a diverse audience, including new, casual and core fans, to understand which phrases would aid comprehension of the central aspects of the new regulations.

The primary aim was to make a set of intricate features of the sport as accessible as possible for the global fanbase.

Consequently, older technical labels for specific components – such as "alphabetical mode names" for the active aerodynamics – have been discarded in favour of descriptive names that directly explain the real-world effect of the system.

Exploring the New Tech

The FIA states that competitors will have increased agency to choose strategies regarding power usage, harvesting, and conservation.

The new regulations introduce a series of modes that will be visually displayed on TV overlays to enhance the fans' insight of the on-track action.

• Passing Mode: This replaces the current DRS. It provides a burst of extra electrical energy accessible when a car is close behind the leading car to facilitate an pass.
• Boost Mode: This is a manual energy deployment from the hybrid system that can be utilized during offensive or defensive moves. It provides the pilot peak output at the click of a switch.

Both of these key functions will have to be managed carefully, as the overall battery capacity is capped.

• Active Aerodynamics: Both the nose and rear wings change configuration – opening on the straights for low aerodynamic resistance and higher speed, and angling down in the turns for optimal cornering performance.
• Recharge: Cars can harvest energy with regenerative braking, or during partial power application at the straight's end or in sections where only partial power is required.

2026 Car Specifications

The 2026 cars will be smaller and lighter relative to current models, with a car length cut by 200mm to 3,400mm, car width narrowed by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the lowest permissible weight reduced by 30kg.

Overall downforce is expected to drop by approximately a significant margin, although teams will inevitably claw this back as they develop their cars.

Air resistance has been slashed by 40%. The vehicles will utilize adjustable aero systems – front and rear wings will move on the straight sections to improve speed and enhance velocity and click back into place for maximum cornering performance.

Wheels will retain the current rim size, but the rubber compounds will be slimmer, by 25 millimetres on the front axle and 30 millimetres on the rear axle.

What's Changing in the Engines?

The revised hybrid units will have an roughly half-and-half distribution in energy output by the internal combustion engine and the electrical system, up from about 20% electrical this year.

The ERS setup is simplified through the elimination of the MGU-H, the intricate and expensive unit that recovered energy from the exhaust turbo.

Every car on the grid will be obliged to compete on 100% sustainable fuel, manufactured from biomass or lab-created processes.