As F1 heads into an era of completely new rules, especially when it comes to turbo-hybrid engines, motorsport’s governing body has set out ambitious plans to change the concept of the cars too.
In addition to the move to active aerodynamics, the FIA wants to reverse the trend of increasing car weight seen in recent years, recognizing that the current minimum limit of 798kg is excessive.
Now, as part of the FIA’s efforts to try and reduce mass in various areas, the idea would be to try and save one kilo on the weight of the halo compared to the current seven.
A tender has been opened for a new halo made of titanium alloy, with a mass exceeding six kilos. The supplier will have to produce and deliver the new halo, which will have to pass stringent endurance tests, and will be supplied to teams from 2026 to 2030.
Last year, FIA single-seater chief Nikolas Tombazis said ambitions to reduce the weight of current F1 cars were quite real.
“We aim to have a significantly lower weight limit, and we are looking to reduce the weight limit by 40 to 50 kilos in 2026,” Tombazis said.
“The way we want to do it is linked to what we have defined as the concept of the ‘agile car’, because we believe that in recent years cars have become a little too bulky and heavy.”
To achieve this goal, several changes were already thought of, even if the possible return to 16-inch wheels has already been discarded.
However, the smaller cars are expected to contribute: the wheelbase of the 2026 ones will likely be reduced to 3400 mm from the current 3600 mm. The cars will also be 10 cm narrower, going from 2000 to 1900 mm.
The plans to reduce downforce should also help reduce weight, as with less stress on the car’s components there would be no need to make them as strong.
Tombazis added: “This lower downforce means that many of the loads on components, such as the suspension, will be reduced and this will allow teams to reduce weight accordingly.”
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