Sadly, it’s all true, and we’ve reached this level: Components 1 is making ready for a radical change beginning in 2026, with the introduction of latest rules geared toward enhancing the spectacle on the observe by way of the implementation of an “override” system. Primarily, a BoP. The objective is to create a efficiency balancing system (Stability of Efficiency or BoP) to create a synthetic efficiency hole between the automobiles, thus facilitating overtaking and retaining competitors alive.
It goes with out saying, nevertheless, that this determination has already sparked differing opinions amongst trade specialists and followers. The intention is to align Components 1 with new sustainability and leisure wants, however the value to pay is clearly a contest distorted in its essence.
The center of the change shall be a single ECU managed by the FIA, which can management the ability and gas consumption of each the thermal and electrical engines of every automotive. The ECU will set a most energy restrict: 400 kW for the thermal engine and 350 kW for the electrical one. By the override command, the system will be capable to quickly cut back the ability of the main automobile, permitting the chasing driver to take care of excessive energy ranges for prolonged durations, thus creating velocity variations particularly designed for overtakes.
The adoption of the BoP in Components 1, disguised as a software to favor overtakes, represents a historic change, doubtlessly second solely to the entire electrification that additionally threatened to reach within the highest class of world motorsport (and whose threat isn’t but fully dominated out). This method, in actual fact, establishes a typical efficiency restrict, flattening the variations between groups and steering the competitors towards an more and more managed and uniform administration of the automobiles. Should you choose, you’ll be able to simply label it as a real manipulation of technical values.
This maneuver can even cut back engineering creativity and the individuality (already very restricted) of the automobiles, limiting the area for technical innovation in favor of a Components 1 pushed by electronics and computing.
Allow us to keep in mind that, as established in earlier months, from 2026, there shall be an actual revolution (already decided) concerning the ability models. The brand new rules, additionally specializing in sustainability, will introduce substantial adjustments in vitality administration and gas utilization. The electrical engine energy will enhance to 350 kW, with a battery regeneration capability rising from 2 to 9 MJ per lap.
On the similar time, the thermal engine will endure an influence discount, dropping from 550 kW to 400 kW, whereas gas consumption shall be restricted by even stricter rules. Moreover, the turbocharging system shall be lowered, with a turbo stress restrict set at 4.8 bar.
The brand new energy models can even need to adapt to energetic aerodynamics (the third main novelty of the 2026 rules), which can enable real-time changes to the automotive’s aerodynamic setup to optimize traction and vitality effectivity, however this can even be managed by way of centralized software program that may restrict the design freedom of the groups.
The conclusions and feedback on these choices may appear superfluous. For individuals 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 automobiles in a clear and interesting battle on the observe are virtually extinct. Actually, all this additionally is available in response to the necessity to cut 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 actually vital for the said sustainability objective, or whether or not it’s extra of a advertising technique to take care of public curiosity.
Components 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 models in 2014) marks the definitive farewell to the game we as soon as knew.
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