Active Aerodynamics

The ground-effect Venturi tunnels are gone, replaced by flatter floors and larger rear diffusers — cutting overall downforce by 15–30% and putting the premium back on mechanical grip and the driver. DRS is abolished; instead every car runs movable front and rear wings.

• X-Mode & Z-Mode. Z-Mode keeps the flaps loaded for maximum cornering grip; on the straights drivers deploy X-Mode to flatten the wings and shed drag for top speed.
• Simplified surfaces. The front-wheel "eyebrows" and the rear beam wing are deleted to save weight and clean up the turbulent wake, so cars can follow more closely.
• Bargeboards return. In-washing bargeboards behind the front wheels manage airflow and curb the out-wash that historically made following difficult.
• Flat-floor philosophy. Moving away from extreme ground effect reduces porpoising and ride-height sensitivity.

The 50/50 Hybrid Power Unit

The 1.6-litre V6 internal combustion output drops to roughly 400kW, now matched by a monumental electrical contribution for a near-perfect 50/50 split — the most efficient power units the sport has built.

• Death of the MGU-H. The complex, costly heat-recovery unit is gone. A beefed-up MGU-K works overtime, harvesting up to 8.5 MJ per lap under braking.
• Override Mode. Replaces DRS for overtaking — within one second of the car ahead, the chaser unlocks a 350kW boost up to 337km/h while the leader's deployment tapers from 290km/h.
• Tactical boost. A separate driver-operated deployment for maximum power anywhere on the lap, for attack or defence.

100% Sustainable Fuel

Engines run exclusively on 100% "drop-in" synthetic fuel. The total race fuel allowance is cut from 110kg to just 75kg, forcing extreme combustion efficiency and rewarding energy management across the stint.

The Agile Chassis

For the first time in decades the cars get smaller and lighter, built for nimble combat on modern circuits.

• Dimensions slashed. Overall width drops from 2000mm to 1900mm; maximum wheelbase shrinks by 200mm to 3400mm.
• Lighter. Minimum weight falls by 30kg to 768kg — a major engineering challenge, but decisive for car dynamics.
• Slimmer tyres. The 18-inch rims stay, but front tyre width is cut by 25mm and rear by 30mm, saving over 1.6kg of unsprung mass.

Safety Standards

Structural requirements are raised alongside the lighter design.

• Roll hoop. Must now withstand a 20G load test.
• Two-stage nose. A new front impact structure prevents the nose from shearing off entirely in a crash.