According to F1 Flow.com, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem are considering a reduction in car weight for the upcoming 2026 rules cycle.
Presently, F1 cars have a minimum weight of 798kg, the highest in the history of the world championship. Concerns have arisen that the introduction of larger batteries in 2026, due to increased electrical power, may further increase car weight. As a result, efforts will be made to counteract this trend.
However, due to the substantial mass of cars caused by mandatory safety devices and hybrid components, skepticism surrounds the possibility of achieving a significant reduction in weight.
In an alternative approach, Allison proposes avoiding mandating specific areas for weight reduction. Instead, he suggests that if the FIA simply lowers the minimum weight requirement, teams will naturally be compelled to find ways to lighten their cars.
When asked about the best approach to reducing car weight, Allison expressed agreement with Stefano’s perspective. He acknowledges the need to halt and reverse the continuous weight increase, as cars have been getting heavier year after year.
“While it is not a simple task to reverse this trend, it is particularly challenging to devise technical rules that will significantly reduce the car’s weight,” Allison said in an interview with F1 Flow.com.
He believes that the most effective way to achieve weight reduction is to lower the weight limit and make it a collective responsibility for all teams. If cars exceed the limit, teams will have to make difficult decisions about the components they include in their vehicles.
Not everyone shares this viewpoint, but Allison believes it is the most reliable method to exert downward pressure on car weight.
Dan Fallows from Aston Martin supports Allison’s assessment but emphasizes that weight reduction efforts should not compromise safety. He suggests exploring architectural modifications and implementing rule changes that assist in achieving weight reduction.
“While reducing the weight limit is one approach, we must ensure that safety is not compromised in any way,” Fallows cautioned.
Pierre Wache, the technical chief of Red Bull, is skeptical about the feasibility of significant weight reduction. He indicates that the upcoming 2026 power units are expected to be substantially heavier than the current ones, making significant weight reduction a formidable challenge.
“I’m not confident that we will witness a significant change in weight,” Wache stated. “The power unit defined now is already considerably heavier than what we have presently. As Stefano mentioned, achieving significant weight reduction will be extremely difficult.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about car weight reduction
What is the current weight of F1 cars?
The current weight of F1 cars is 798kg, which is the highest in the history of the world championship.
Why is there a concern about increasing car weight?
There is concern about increasing car weight due to the potential introduction of larger batteries in 2026, resulting in even heavier cars. Efforts are being made to address this issue.
How does Mercedes propose to reduce car weight?
Mercedes suggests lowering the minimum weight requirement for F1 cars. By doing so, teams will be naturally motivated to find ways to make their cars lighter.
What are the challenges in reducing car weight?
The challenges in reducing car weight are primarily due to the necessary safety devices and hybrid components that contribute to the current high weight. It is not easy to achieve a significant reduction without compromising safety or implementing complex technical rules.
Are there alternative approaches to reducing car weight?
Yes, there are alternative approaches. Aston Martin suggests exploring architectural modifications and implementing rule changes that support weight reduction while ensuring safety is not compromised.
Is there agreement among all teams regarding reducing car weight?
Not everyone agrees on the approach to reducing car weight. However, Mercedes believes that making it a shared responsibility by lowering the weight limit will put pressure on teams to find solutions.
What are the concerns regarding the upcoming 2026 power units?
There are concerns that the upcoming 2026 power units may be significantly heavier than the current ones, making it even more challenging to achieve significant weight reduction.
What is the overall goal of reducing car weight in F1?
The overall goal of reducing car weight in F1 is to address the continuous upward trend and reverse it, as cars have been getting heavier year after year. This helps improve performance and overall competitiveness.
More about car weight reduction
- F1 Flow.com: Source for the information about F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem eyeing a reduction in car weight for the next rules cycle.
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team: Official website of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, which includes updates and news about their perspective on car weight reduction.
- Aston Martin Formula One Team: Official website of the Aston Martin Formula One Team, providing insights into their viewpoints on car weight reduction.
- FIA: Official website of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for motorsport, which may have further information on regulations and safety concerns.
- Red Bull Racing: Official website of Red Bull Racing, where Pierre Wache, the technical chief, expressed skepticism about weight reduction.
6 comments
FIA should tink bout safety first, reducing weight can’t compromise that! but hey, maybe there are other ways to make the cars lighter, architecturally or sumthin’!
F1 cars keep gettin’ heavier, man! gotta do sumthin’ ’bout it. lower the weight limit, teams will get creative. lighter cars mean faster cars, right?
i dunno if weight reduction is gonna work, power units in 2026 could b even heavier! so tuff to make it significantly lighter, like pierre said.
Mercedes and Aston Martin make good arguments, but safety has gotta come first! no point in lighter cars if it’s not safe out there. f1 gotta find a balance.
It’s a real challenge to reduce car weight without messing up safety or makin’ complicated rules. let’s see what FIA and the teams come up with. exciting times in F1!
mercedes has got a point! if u lower the weight limit, teams gotta figure out how to make cars lighter, makes sense ya know?