The F1 2026 regulations leave plenty of room for the use of zero-emission fuels, with some teams potentially gaining a 50-horsepower advantage.
Formula 1 is preparing to embrace one of the most debated and significant regulatory changes in its recent history. In 2026, the world’s premier motorsport will introduce a new set of rules, which the teams are already studying in great detail.
Inaugurated for the first time this summer, through the presentation of a scaled-down model and related technical explanations, the new regulations have undergone several modifications over the past few months in order to allow more room for creativity and innovation from the teams’ engineers. It’s no coincidence that some teams plan to partially sacrifice the 2025 season in order to focus their efforts more thoroughly on the following year.
One of the key and most debated points of the new regulations concerns fuel. As mentioned earlier, there have been changes to the front wing, and the Federation is considering revising the rear diffuser dimensions to increase the aerodynamic downforce of the cars: initially reduced to 40% in the first draft, the goal is now to reach 50%.
Teams have shown a certain enthusiasm for the flexibility offered by the new regulations, which will allow engineers to work with greater freedom. The “gray area,” so to speak, may lie in the use of fuel: the FIA is exploring the path of clean fuels, which, when combined with combustion engines, could prove less polluting while still delivering excellent performance.
The road ahead seems clear: a regulation that encourages the free development of clean fuels and the evolution of synthetic fuels that do not necessarily come from fossil sources. The teams, focused on building the new car configurations, are realizing that relying solely on the power unit may not be enough to excel in the 2026 season
F1 Studies New Fuels: Is 2026 the New 2014?
This is why the fuel battle has resumed its history, perhaps never fully stopping. Using one type of advanced, high-performance fuel over another could result in a performance increase of 3-5%, or 30 to 50 horsepower. The various teams are aware that many oil companies, such as Aramco, Petronas, Shell, ExxonMobil, and BP, are already on the move—though with differing budgets. These differences could, in turn, affect performance in 2026.
According to Motorsport reports, some oil groups are seeking collaborations with specialized centers to develop innovative and high-performance solutions. It’s worth noting that during the budget cap era, the cost of 1 liter of E-Fuel was estimated at around 200 euros, but the goal now is to reduce this figure to 150 euros while also introducing restrictions on additive substances. The general feeling is that, given these changes, it’s not out of the question that 2026 could see a dominance similar to Mercedes in 2014.
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