Aero, power units, rules
Formula 1 technical coverage: car upgrades, aerodynamics, power units and the technical regulations that shape the grid, broken down without the jargon.
Pirelli maintains a competitive edge for the next Formula 1 tyre contract due to technical experience. Bridgestone and Michelin are monitoring the situation as potential bidders, though they face significant design hurdles if they attempt to enter the market in 2029.
Honda engineers discovered no hardware faults after investigating turbo lag issues reported by Fernando Alonso at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Shintaro Orihara noted that the energy-rich track conditions in Singapore prevented MGU-K harvesting from effectively compensating for the delay.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis plans to cut Formula 1 car weights by 80kg through power unit simplifications and smaller dimensions. This reduction aims to make cars two to three seconds faster while offsetting a projected 20kg to 25kg increase in fuel consumption.
General Motors president Mark Reuss announced the December 18 opening of a Cadillac engine factory in Charlotte, North Carolina. The facility will develop power units for the 2029 Formula 1 season following FIA approval for General Motors to act as a supplier.
McLaren introduces new upgrades and floor changes at the United States Grand Prix to address braking reliability and test 2027 development concepts. The team currently holds 339 points in the constructors' standings as they attempt to defend third place against a surging Red Bull.
The FIA is intervening in a technical dispute by mandating uniform rim cover shapes to stop teams like Red Bull and Mercedes from manipulating airflow. This standardization aims to reduce tire-induced turbulence and improve racing quality by stabilizing airflow for following cars.
Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta revealed the team rejected the Macarena wing concept due to a downforce compromise. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with a 102 point advantage over George Russell heading into the United States Grand Prix.
Red Bull Racing utilizes an agentic AI system developed with Oracle to recommend real-time race actions. During the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, the tool advised Max Verstappen to yield a position to Lando Norris, helping him avoid a penalty and ultimately win the race by 19.2 seconds.
FIA technical delegates plan to reduce floor support dimensions from 20mm to 5mm to prevent teams from using structural cables to create sharper sidepod edges. This regulation change targets a design used by Red Bull and Audi to bypass standard radius requirements.
Loïc Serra leads the technical supervision for Ferrari's 2026 SF-26 project as the team prepares for major regulatory changes. Development focuses on power unit energy recovery, chassis balance, and tire management to maintain competitiveness against rivals.
Ferrari utilizes pushrod actuation on the SF-26 to improve aerodynamic stability and airflow. This mechanical shift impacts ride height management, which proved critical when Charles Leclerc faced disqualification at the United States Grand Prix due to excessive plank wear.
Mercedes faces a 60-hour wind tunnel limit and tight cash constraints as they attempt to rebuild their development pipeline. Toto Wolff noted the squad is low on cash after spending $1.8 million on crash damage, impacting the budget for upcoming performance upgrades.
The 350kW MGU-K introduces massive retarding torque to the rear axle, requiring a brake-by-wire system to adjust mechanical caliper pressure. This algorithm maintains consistent rear braking force by compensating for electrical harvesting to prevent instability.