Formula 1 should have slightly slower cars with the 2026 rule adjustments. The changes were made to improve dynamics in qualifying sessions and address concerns raised by drivers, mainly regarding safety.
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One of the main changes involves reducing the maximum energy recovery from 8MJ to 7MJ, with the aim of limiting excessive management and allowing laps closer to the limit. However, this will have a direct impact on lap times, especially during acceleration on long straights.
According to Mark Temple, McLaren’s Technical Director, the performance loss will be small: “We are talking about two or three tenths, depending on the track. Part of this comes from the lower energy application on the straights,” he explained.
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In addition to qualifying sessions, races will also have changes in how electrical energy is used. In sections where overtaking is less likely, such as high-speed corners, there will be a reduction in power, while the maximum will be maintained at points more favorable for battles.
Even with these limitations, the expectation is that the battles will not be significantly harmed. Temple points out that some more opportunistic overtakes may disappear: “There will still be chances to overtake, but in a more progressive way. This requires more driver strategy and can even improve the spectacle in some cases,” concluded the director.
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