F1 News
FIA president on 2026 rule change: 'We want lighter cars'
- Cas van de Kleut
The regulations introduced in 2022 have had a big impact on Formula 1. The cars became a lot heavier than before, and with the new engine regulations coming in 2026, it looks like the cars are going to be even heavier. Christian Horner, among others, criticised this, and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says the FIA is looking at ways to reduce the weight of the cars.
Ben Sulayem himself was also a driver, and so he knows what goes wrong, telling Motorsport-total.com: "I have driven rallies myself. Give me everything, but please no heavy car! That always bothered me. Lighter cars are better, and I know what I'm talking about. If the car is heavier, the suspension is affected, the brakes work worse, the tyres wear faster. And in an accident, more weight is more dangerous."
FIA will make decision for F1 cars
Consequently, the heavier cars have already received a lot of criticism from the teams. The president goes on to say that he has already spoken to his team at the FIA, and that the intention is to make the cars lighter and improve the sound of the cars. However, he does stress that the FIA must ultimately decide, and that this decision is made because it is good for the sport, and not because the FOM or any team wants it.