Just Formula E on steroids?

Formula 1 has undergone a radical overhaul ahead of the 2026 season opener in Australia.

The cars are shorter, narrower and lighter, but perhaps most decisively now 50% of the power comes from the battery rather than from the combustion engine. The aerodynamics are also different, and instead of the usual DRS, drivers have a “boost” button that allows them to unlock more power during the race.

Some experts have called the changes “the biggest ever,” and not everyone is happy about it.

What has changed in the car?

Other than the aforementioned changes to the car, the tires have also become slimmer. In addition, the underbody is no longer curved but flat. The front and rear wings can be adjusted by the driver during the race from “corner mode” where there is more downforce in the corners, to “straight mode” where there is less drag on the straights. All these adjustments have significantly changed the aerodynamics of the car.

However, the biggest change has been to the drive system. The cars still have a 1.6-liter V6 turbo engine. Last season it generated 80% of its power, but now the split between engine and battery is 50:50. This increases the importance of the battery, which is constantly charged and discharged while driving. Drivers can release the stored energy at the touch of a button and use it to accelerate or overtake.

What does this mean for driving?

It means drivers must work together with their race engineers to continuously manage energy. Drivers collect energy when braking, when they lift their foot off the gas (lift and coast), or when they shift down to a lower gear in corners (engine braking). A single charge is not sufficient  for an entire race. In fact, you can’t even go full throttle for an entire lap with it.

Many of the drivers are not at all enthusiastic about the new reliance on battery power. Four-time drivers’ champion Max Verstappen was particularly vocal during preseason testing in Bahrain.

“It actually has nothing to do with Formula 1,” grumbled the Dutchman. “It feels more like Formula E on steroids.”

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton called the energy management requirements “ridiculously complex” and feared that it would often be difficult for spectators to understand why the driver was not going full throttle.

“None of the fans will understand it,” predicted the Briton, who is aiming to win a record-setting eighth drivers’ title.

The Aston Martin team is in utter despair. The new power unit is causing such severe vibrations that there are fears prolonged driving could lead to nerve damage in the drivers’ hands. It seems the team doesn’t intend to complete the first few races.

“We will have to severely limit the number of laps we complete in the race until we have gotten to the bottom of the vibrations and made improvements,” team principal Adrian Newey said.

Which teams and drivers are new to the series?

Four years after announcing their return, Audi will finally join the grid this season. Their gradual takeover of racing team Sauber is now complete and by competing with their own team, they will become the fourth German car manufacturer (after Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW) to venture into the premier class.

Apart from Formula E, Audi has not been particularly active in the Formula series to date. Most of its successes have come in rally and touring car racing.

Nevertheless, Audi are ambitious and they want to win the world championship by 2030. First though, it’s all about gaining experience and improving.

“You also have to be humble in the face of the challenge ahead,” said team boss Jonathan Wheatley. “You don’t just beat teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, or McLaren because you’re Audi. It doesn’t work like that.”

While Audi was welcomed with open arms, Cadillac, the other newcomer, had to fight long and hard for permission to join as the 11th team. The US luxury brand has previously been more active in endurance racing. With Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, the team is relying on two very experienced drivers, and they will drive in a car with a Cadillac chassis and a Ferrari engine.

The only real newcomer to the premier class of motorsport is Arvid Lindblad. The 18-year-old Briton will be racing for Racing Bulls, where he takes over from Isack Hadjar, who has been promoted to Red Bull and given Yuki Tsunoda’s seat.

Who are the favorites for the title?

With completely new cars and a different set of rules, predictions are harder to make this time around. Only once the season starts, will it be clear who is capable of consistently finishing at the front.

The early signs from testing are that Ferrari might be the team to look out for. On the final day, Charles Leclerc set the fastest time overall in Bahrain. Behind him were the defending drivers’ champion Lando Norris (McLaren), Verstappen, and Mercedes driver George Russell.

Have there been any changes to the tracks?

Just like in 2025, there will be 24 races. The season begins on March 8 in Melbourne and ends on December 6 in Abu Dhabi.

New to the racing calendar is the Madrid street circuit, replacing the race at Imola. The Spanish Grand Prix will be held there on September 13. The Barcelona race in June remains on the calendar, but is now called the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

However, as the contract with the circuit is expiring, 2026 may be the last time we see an F1 race in Barcelona for a while. The Dutch track in the dunes of Zandvoort is also on the way out, albeit in 2027. With the organizers withdrawing from Formula 1 for financial reasons, Max Verstappen will enjoy a home race for the last time for the forseeable future this year.

This article was adapted from German.