Formula 1 cars will experience minimal laptime losses when the new regulations take effect in 2026, according to FIA single-seater boss Nikolas Tombazis.
This reassurance comes amid concerns that the move to power units with much more electrical energy would drastically slow down lap times.
Tombazis confirmed that despite the radical changes, the cars would be "hardly any slower" in 2026.
At recent meetings of the F1 Commission and the World Motor Sport Council, stakeholders responded to concerns about the performance of the 2026 cars by approving amendments to the technical regulations. These adjustments aim to prevent any significant reduction in speed.
The FIA announced that these amendments would increase aerodynamic performance after extensive collaboration with the teams over the past few months.
Auto Motor und Sport's Michael Schmidt explained that the changes give engineers more freedom in several key areas, including the front wing, wheel covers, sidepods, and the diffuser.
"Work is still underway on the areas around the rear wheels," Schmidt added.
In total, these adjustments provide engineers with an additional 50 points of downforce compared to the original 2026 regulations. "Overall," Schmidt said, "the downforce reduction is now only 15 percent compared to the current cars, rather than the initial 40 percent."
Tombazis assured reporters in Austin that the 2026 laptimes would not be drastically different from today's cars.
"The new cars will also be better in traffic," he added, indicating that overtaking and racing closely with other cars should be improved under the new regulations.
