Sadly, it’s all true, and we’ve reached this level: Method 1 is getting ready for a radical change beginning in 2026, with the introduction of recent rules aimed toward enhancing the spectacle on the observe by the implementation of an “override” system. Basically, a BoP. The aim is to create a efficiency balancing system (Steadiness of Efficiency or BoP) to create a man-made efficiency hole between the vehicles, thus facilitating overtaking and retaining competitors alive.
It goes with out saying, nevertheless, that this resolution has already sparked differing opinions amongst business consultants and followers. The intention is to align Method 1 with new sustainability and leisure wants, however the value to pay is clearly a contest distorted in its essence.
The guts of the change will likely be a single ECU managed by the FIA, which is able to management the ability and gas consumption of each the thermal and electrical engines of every automobile. The ECU will set a most energy restrict: 400 kW for the thermal engine and 350 kW for the electrical one. By means of the override command, the system will have the ability to briefly scale back the ability of the main automobile, permitting the chasing driver to take care of excessive energy ranges for prolonged intervals, thus creating velocity variations particularly designed for overtakes.
The adoption of the BoP in Method 1, disguised as a device to favor overtakes, represents a historic change, probably second solely to the entire electrification that additionally threatened to reach within the highest class of world motorsport (and whose threat will not be but solely dominated out). This method, in truth, establishes an ordinary efficiency restrict, flattening the variations between groups and steering the competitors towards an more and more managed and uniform administration of the vehicles. For those who favor, you possibly can simply label it as a real manipulation of technical values.
This maneuver may even scale back engineering creativity and the distinctiveness (already very restricted) of the vehicles, limiting the area for technical innovation in favor of a Method 1 pushed by electronics and computing.
Allow us to keep in mind that, as established in earlier months, from 2026, there will likely be an actual revolution (already decided) concerning the ability items. The brand new rules, additionally specializing in sustainability, will introduce substantial modifications in power administration and gas utilization. The electrical engine energy will improve to 350 kW, with a battery regeneration capability rising from 2 to 9 MJ per lap.
On the identical time, the thermal engine will bear an influence discount, dropping from 550 kW to 400 kW, whereas gas consumption will likely be restricted by even stricter rules. Moreover, the turbocharging system will likely be lowered, with a turbo stress restrict set at 4.8 bar.
The brand new energy items may even should adapt to energetic aerodynamics (the third main novelty of the 2026 rules), which is able to enable real-time changes to the automobile’s aerodynamic setup to optimize traction and power effectivity, however this may even be managed by centralized software program that may restrict the design freedom of the groups.
The conclusions and feedback on these selections might sound superfluous. For many who love motorsport, all of that is bordering on miserable. The times when on-track battles had been genuine and the values of the drivers could possibly be matched with the technical designs of the vehicles in a clear and interesting battle on the observe are virtually extinct. Actually, all this additionally is available in response to the necessity to scale back environmental affect, an more and more central theme in motorsport. Nevertheless, it’s authentic to ask whether or not manipulating the values on the observe is really important for the acknowledged sustainability aim, or whether or not it’s extra of a advertising and marketing technique to take care of public curiosity.
Method 1 (which now solely carries the identify of the game we bear in mind) is more and more changing into a problem of software program and digital administration. And maybe this step (which comes after the architectural restrictions of engines in 1995, the ban on in-season testing in 2009, the introduction of DRS in 2012, and the appearance of energy items in 2014) marks the definitive farewell to the game we as soon as knew.
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