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F1 has revealed the new vocabulary that will be used to describe the advanced features of its revolutionary 2026 rulebook.

The sport is embarking on what is considered the biggest rules overhaul in its competitive history next season, featuring revised car and engine specifications and the compulsory introduction of fully sustainable fuels.

The revised engines, which maintain the 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid, boast a significantly increased energy storage, requiring key advancements in the aero packages.

Over a race distance, competitors will carefully oversee battery power – potentially on qualifying laps – to achieve the optimal performance.

Broad surveys were conducted with a diverse audience, including dedicated enthusiasts and casual observers, to understand which phrases would aid comprehension of the central aspects of the upcoming rules.

The primary aim was to present a range of advanced technical aspects of the competition as accessible as possible for the broadest viewership.

Consequently, initial designations for some systems – such as "alphabetical mode names" for the active aerodynamics – have been discarded in favour of straightforward terms that clearly indicate the primary purpose of the system.

What's the New Technology?

According to rule-makers that competitors will have increased agency to determine tactics regarding battery management, regeneration, and efficiency.

The 2026 rules introduce a set of functions that will be shown on broadcast screens to enhance the viewers' comprehension of the on-track action.

• Overtake Mode: This supersedes the present overtaking aid. It provides a short boost of battery power available when a car is within one second the car ahead to execute an overtaking maneuver.
• Power Mode: This is a manual battery discharge from the ERS that can be deployed for attack or defence. It provides the pilot peak output at the activation of a control.

Both of these crucial modes will have to be used with calculation, as the overall battery capacity is strictly limited.

• Adjustable Aero: Both the nose and rear wings move automatically – opening on the high-speed sections for minimal air resistance and higher speed, and sealing in the corners for peak grip.
• Recharge: Drivers can harvest energy with regenerative braking, or during throttle lift at the end of straights or in certain corners where only reduced throttle is required.

2026 Car Specifications

The 2026 cars will be reduced in size and weight compared to the 2025 spec, with a car length reduced by 200mm to 3,400mm, car width cut by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the car weight reduced by 30kg.

Total aerodynamic grip is projected to decrease by approximately fifteen to thirty percent, although constructors will undoubtedly recover some as they optimize their packages.

Aerodynamic drag has been reduced by 40%. The vehicles will feature adjustable aero systems – both wings will move on the straight sections to reduce drag and enhance velocity and return into place for peak handling.

Tyres will continue to use 18-inch rims, but the actual tyres will be reduced in width, by a quarter-centimetre on the front and 30mm at the rear.

What's Changing in the Engines?

The revised hybrid units will have an roughly half-and-half distribution in power produced by the petrol engine and the electrical system, up from about 20% battery contribution in the current formula.

The energy recovery system is streamlined through the removal of the Motor Generator Unit – Heat, the intricate and expensive device that generated electricity from the exhaust turbo.

Every car on the grid will be required to run on carbon-neutral fuel, produced using organic sources or synthetic production methods.