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F1 has unveiled the new terminology that will be used to explain the technical complexities of its upcoming 2026 rulebook.

The racing series is embarking on what is potentially the biggest technical shift in its long history for the 2026 campaign, featuring revised car and engine specifications and the required adoption of eco-friendly fuels.

The revised engines, which keep the 1.6-litre V6 configuration, boast a substantially higher electrical capacity, necessitating key advancements in the aero packages.

Over a race distance, pilots will tactically deploy battery power – potentially on flying laps – to extract the optimal result.

Broad surveys were undertaken with a diverse audience, including dedicated enthusiasts and casual observers, to determine which terms would improve understanding of the key features of the upcoming rules.

The primary aim was to present a range of advanced features of the competition as straightforward as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, initial designations for certain devices – such as "x-mode and z-mode" for the active aerodynamics – have been abandoned in favor of intuitive labels that succinctly convey the primary purpose of the innovation.

Key Technical Innovations

The FIA states that drivers will have more power to choose strategies regarding energy deployment, energy recovery, and conservation.

The new regulations introduce a set of functions that will be shown on broadcast screens to aid the viewers' comprehension of the on-track action.

• Attack Mode: This supersedes the existing Drag Reduction System. It provides a burst of extra electrical energy available when a driver is close behind the leading car to facilitate an overtake.
• Power Mode: This is a manual power boost from the ERS that can be utilized during attack or defence. It grants the pilot maximum power at the push of a button.

Both of these strategic tools will have to be deployed strategically, as the overall battery capacity is restricted.

• Active Aero: Both the front and rear wings move automatically – opening on the straights for reduced drag and higher speed, and closing in the corners for maximum downforce.
• Energy Harvesting: Cars can replenish their battery with regenerative braking, or during partial power application at the straight's end or in corners where only partial power is required.

What's Changing on the Cars?

The next-generation machines will be reduced in size and weight relative to current models, with a distance between axles shortened by 200mm to 3,400mm, overall width cut by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the lowest permissible weight reduced by 30kg.

Overall downforce is projected to decrease by approximately a significant margin, although constructors will naturally regain performance as they optimize their packages.

Drag has been slashed by 40%. The cars will employ active aerodynamics – front and rear wings will move on the straight sections to reduce drag and enhance velocity and revert into place for maximum cornering performance.

Tyres will retain the current rim size, but the actual tyres will be narrower, by 25 millimetres on the front axle and three centimetres on the rear.

2026 Engine Regulations

The new power units will have an near-equal balance in horsepower generated by the internal combustion engine and the electrical system, up from about 20% battery contribution in the current formula.

The hybrid system is made less complex through the elimination of the complex turbo energy recovery device, the intricate and expensive unit that harvested power from the turbo.

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