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F1 liveries and tech spec round-up 2026

10 February 2026
Key Technical Specifications & Features
  • Engine: 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged hybrid with enhanced sustainable fuel usage.
  • Hybrid Power: MGU-K increased to 350kW, with the ERS-H removed.
  • Aerodynamics: Active aero with movable front and rear wings, plus reduced, partially flat floors.
  • Chassis & Dimensions: Reduced width (1900mm) and wheelbase (3400mm) for increased agility.
  • Suspension: Front pull-rod system with a significant anti-dive, rear push-rod system.
  • Gearbox: Independent gearbox casing, using Ferrari internal components.
  • Weight: Minimum weight reduced to 768kg.
  • Wheels: 18-inch Pirelli tires, with narrower front tires.
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McLaren MCL40

2026 McLaren (MCL40) Technical Specifications
  • Chassis & Dimensions:
    • Weight: Minimum weight reduced by 30kg to 768kg.
    • Wheelbase: Reduced by 200mm to a maximum of 3400mm, making the car significantly shorter.
    • Width: Narrower by 100mm (1900mm total).
    • Suspension: The MCL40 features pushrod suspension both front and rear, chosen for aerodynamic and weight-saving benefits.
    • Nose/Safety: Features a two-stage nose design for improved crash safety.
  • Power Unit (Hybrid):
    • Engine: 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged ICE.
    • Hybrid System: MGU-H (heat energy recovery) is removed.
    • MGU-K: Significantly beefed up, with electrical power increasing from 120kW to 350kW (nearly 300% more).
    • Power Split: Roughly 50:50 split between internal combustion engine and electric power.
    • Fuel: 100% advanced sustainable fuels.
  • Aerodynamics:
    • Active Aero: The 2026 car features active aerodynamics, with moveable front and rear wings replacing traditional DRS. The wings switch between “Z-Mode” (high downforce for corners) and “X-Mode” (low drag for straights).
    • Drag Reduction: Total car drag is reduced by up to 40-55%.
    • Downforce: Reduced by 15-30% with a narrower floor and smaller, simpler front wing.
    • Wheels/Tyres: 18-inch rims are retained, but tyres are narrower (25mm narrower front, 30mm narrower rear).
  • Performance Features:
    • Overtake Mode: Replaces DRS, providing an electrical power boost when within one second of a car ahead.
    • Manual Boost: A “boost button” allows drivers to manually deploy electric energy.
  • McLaren Specifics (MCL40):
    • The McLaren 2026 car has been observed with a notably large airbox and a long nose design.
    • The team adopted a late-start approach to maximize development time, with the initial shakedown revealing a focus on refining the under-car airflow
Watch video

ASTON MARTIN AMR26

Key 2026 Technical Specifications (AMR26):
  • Power Unit: 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged Honda engine with an enhanced Energy Recovery System (ERS), producing over 1,000 bhp.
  • Engine & Fuel: The Honda RA626H runs on 100% sustainable synthetic fuel. The MGU-H is removed.
  • Chassis & Aero: Features active aerodynamics (movable front/rear wings) to reduce drag on straights and increase downforce in corners. The car will have a shorter wheelbase (maximum 3,400mm) and a narrower width (1,900mm).
  • Weight: The minimum weight is set at 768kg, including the driver but excluding fuel.
  • Transmission: Aston Martin Aramco F1 eight-speed, semi-automatic gearbox.
  • Partnership: The 2026 season marks the start of a works partnership with Honda.
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MERCEDES W17

2026 Mercedes-AMG W17 Technical Specifications & Changes:
  • Power Unit: 1.6-litre V6 hybrid with a 350kW MGU-K (tripled power from current) and roughly 50-50 electric/petrol power split.
  • Fuel: Advanced 100% sustainable, drop-in fuel.
  • Active Aerodynamics: Uses movable front and rear wings, eliminating traditional DRS for active, high-speed drag reduction.
  • Chassis & Dimensions: 30kg lighter (approx. 768kg min), 200mm shorter wheelbase (3,400mm), 100mm narrower width (1,900mm).
  • Suspension & Tires: Retains 18-inch Pirelli wheels, but with narrower front (-25mm) and rear (-30mm) tires. Features pushrod front suspension.
  • Safety: Increased crash test requirements, including a 20g load for the roll hoop.
  • Key Design Features (W17): Features a distinct, aggressive, and potentially “left-field” rear, with a modified anti-lift rear suspension aimed at controlling the car under braking.
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ORACLE RED BULL RACING RB22 

RB22 Technical Specification

Model name: Oracle Red Bull Racing – RB22
Power Unit: Red Bull Ford Powertrains DM01
Gearbox: Red Bull Technology designed and built 8 speed transmission
Fuel: Esso Synergy
Oil: Mobil 1
Brakes: Carbon-Carbon Composite
Callipers: Brembo
Rims: OZ, 18” wheel diameter

Watch video

SCUDERIA FERRARI SF-26 

SF-26 Technical Specifications

Chassis
Chassis made from carbon fibre composite honeycomb, with halo protection for the cockpit
Bodywork and seat in carbon fibre
Longitudinal Ferrari gearbox with 8 forward gears and reverse
Hydraulically controlled rear differential
Brembo ventilated carbon discs (front and rear) with electronically controlled
rear brakes
Push-rod front and rear suspension
Weight including coolant, oil and driver: 770 kg
18” front and rear wheels

Power unit
Turbocharged engine
Name: 067/6
Cubic capacity: 1,600 cc
Turbocharging: single turbocharger
Maximum turbocharger speed: 150,000 rpm
Maximum fuel energy flow: 3,000 MJ/h
Configuration: 90° V6
Nr cylinders: 6
Bore: 80 mm
Stroke: 53 mm
4 valves per cylinder
Direct injection, max 350 bar

ERS System
Configuration: hybrid energy recovery system with single electric motor generator (MGU-K)
Battery pack: lithium-ion batteries, minimum battery pack mass including control
electronics of 35 kg
Battery capacity: 4 MJ max SOC delta, 9 MJ max energy during charging
Max operating voltage: 1,000 V
MGU-K power: 350 kW
MGU-K maximum rpm: 60,000

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WILLIAMS FW48

Key 2026 Williams (FW48) Technical Features
  • Chassis: Shorter wheelbase (down 200mm to 3400mm) and narrower width (1900mm) for increased agility.
  • Power Unit: 1.6-litre V6 hybrid with a massively increased electric component, delivering ~350kW (roughly 3x more electric power).
  • Aerodynamics: Active aero (moveable front and rear wings) replaces the traditional DRS, with a 30% reduction in downforce and 55% less drag.
  • Weight & Safety: Minimum weight reduced to 768kg, featuring strengthened structural safety.
  • Suspension & Design: Initial 2026 tests suggest a focus on conservative, reliable design to maximize data gathering, featuring a “scooping” front wing, while the team works to optimize the new, complex power unit packaging.
Watch video

HAAS VF-26

Key Technical Specifications & Features (2026)
  • Power Unit: Ferrari 067/6 1.6L V6 Turbo Hybrid.
  • Energy Recovery: Enhanced kinetic and thermal systems, with electric power rising to 350kW.
  • Transmission: 8-speed + 1 reverse.
  • Weight: 770 kg (minimum, including driver, excluding fuel).
  • Aerodynamics: Active aerodynamics (active aero) with movable front and rear wings, eliminating traditional DRS.
  • Suspension: Pushrod front and rear.
  • Chassis & Design: Narrower, shorter, and more agile, with a large central fin.
  • Partnership: Strengthened technical collaboration with Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) for chassis development and wind tunnel usage.
  • Brakes: Brembo carbon self-ventilating discs with brake-by-wire.
Watch video

ALPINE A526

2026 Alpine A526 Technical Specifications (Preliminary)
  • Power Unit: Mercedes-AMG (Customer Supply)
  • Engine Type: 1.6-litre V6 Turbo Hybrid
  • Hybrid System: ~350kW (approx. 470hp) electric power, ~300% increase from 2025
  • Total Power: Over 1,000 HP (combining ICE and Electrical)
  • Fuel: 100% sustainable, advanced fuel
  • Dimensions: 200mm shorter, 100mm narrower
  • Weight: 30kg lighter than previous generation
  • Aerodynamics: Active aero (movable front and rear wings) replacing DRS
  • Wheel Size: 18-inch (retained from 2022-25 era)
Key 2026 Technical Changes & Features
  • Switch to Mercedes Power: Alpine officially abandoned its own engine program at Viry-Châtillon, switching to Mercedes-AMG power units for the 2026–2030 cycle.
  • “Small and Light” Philosophy: The A526 is designed under the new “agile car” concept, reducing the wheelbase to 3400mm and width to 1900mm to improve racing, according to FIA regulations.
  • Active Aerodynamics: The A526 features movable front and rear wings, allowing for two configurations: a high-downforce mode for corners and a low-drag mode for straights.
  • Increased Electrical Focus: The power unit split is closer to 50% thermal and 50% electrical, with 350kW from the MGU-K.
  • “Overtake Mode”: The traditional Drag Reduction System (DRS) is replaced by a new system providing a burst of battery power to the car behind.
Watch video

AUDI REVOLUT AFR 26

Power Unit (Audi AFR 26)
Audi is developing a bespoke 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged internal combustion engine (ICE).
  • Hybrid Split: The power unit will operate on a near 50/50 split between the ICE and the electric motor, with a massive increase in electrical power.
  • Electric Motor (MGU-K): The power output of the electric motor will increase to 350 kW (approximately 475 hp), a significant jump from the 120 kW used in previous regulations.
  • MGU-H Removal: The complex MGU-H (Heat Energy Recovery System) has been removed to increase road relevance.
  • Energy Recovery: The kinetic energy recovery through the MGU-K will be tripled, allowing for greater harvesting under braking.
  • Fuel: The engine will run on 100% advanced sustainable, carbon-neutral fuel.
  • Battery: An advanced Audi-developed lithium-ion battery pack.
Chassis and Aerodynamics (R26)
The R26 is built to new, more agile regulations designed to make the cars more competitive and sustainable.
  • Weight: The minimum weight is reduced to 768 kg (30kg lighter than 2025).
  • Dimensions: The car features a shorter wheelbase (3400mm, reduced by 200mm) and a narrower width (1900mm, reduced by 100mm).
  • Active Aerodynamics: The R26 will utilize active aerodynamics (moveable front and rear wings) to reduce drag on straights and increase downforce in corners, replacing traditional DRS.
  • Aerodynamic Changes: Smaller floors, removal of beam wings, and reduced ground-effect tunnels to lower downforce by 15-30%.
  • Suspension: Double wishbone push-rod suspension, both front and rear.

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11 Feb
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