The 2026 regulations introduce significant changes to the cars. They will be 30 kilograms lighter, with a minimum weight of 768kg. The wheelbase will be shorter by 200mm, and the cars will be 100mm narrower, aiming for a more agile and nimble design.
🚨| Adrian Newey on the 2026 regulations:
"The FIA appears to have been heavily influenced by one or two manufacturers, hoping to appease those, but also to attract others.
The reality is that the manufacturers come and go, with the exception of Ferrari." pic.twitter.com/MDdOnWdAim
— Ferrari Focus (@Scuderiascoop) June 6, 2024
One of the most significant changes for designers is the implementation of active aerodynamics for both front and rear wings. Red Bull’s Newey described these changes as “slightly strange,” but emphasized the need to embrace the challenge.
Adrian Newey said on the 2026 regulations, “The FIA appears to have been heavily influenced by one or two manufacturers, hoping to appease those, but also to attract others. The reality is that the manufacturers come and go, with the exception of Ferrari.”
Hamilton’s Praise for Adrian Newey
As the Formula 1 season heats up, rumors swirl around the potential move of legendary designer Adrian Newey from Red Bull to Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Scuderia Ferrari next year, has weighed in on the matter
Two years ago, Lewis Hamilton praised Adrian Newey’s design prowess. He acknowledged that Newey “doesn’t generally build bad cars” and highlighted the engineer’s groundbreaking work during Red Bull’s dominant era in Formula 1. Newey’s hand-drawn designs and expertise in ground-effect cars have left a lasting impact on the sport.
“We had some leakages at the beginning when I joined, even before I joined because I understood in the press that I will go to Ferrari before I started the discussion with Ferrari. In the last six months, you had gossip in the press, but it was gossip and not real leaks from the team.”
During a recent press conference, Lewis Hamilton expressed his thoughts on working with Newey at Ferrari. He described it as a privilege, emphasizing that while Newey is a significant part of Red Bull, many engineers contribute to the team’s success. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari next year adds further intrigue to the situation.
He said: “There was the story with Newey seen in Bologna because Newey was going to Mugello [to test]. That’s not a leak! I don’t want to make any judgment on the past, but I can’t complain. I had more leaks at Renault, for example. Renault, I was saying something in the debrief, and then it was in that afternoon on the websites.”
