2026 F1 Car’s Major Change Leaves James Vowles Concerned: “Don’t Think Anyone Will Achieve That”

By now, we all know that 2026 will bring in new regulations for the car’s specs. Along with trying to go carbon-neutral, the teams are making adjustments to the dimensions of the cars which will result in weight reduction of the upcoming F1 cars. So far we do not know what will be the new standard for an F1 car’s weight, however, it is poised to be revealed soon.

According to the upcoming regulations, teams will be removing the MGU-H as it’s not a function used in road cars. The regulations will help achieve this weight reduction, and once the MGU-H is gone, cars will be significantly lighter after adhering to the other regulations. However, on hearing this, Williams’ boss, James Vowles, disagreed with the possibility of the same by 2026.

James Vowles deems it unlikely for the requirements of the regulations to be met

Having a lighter car will bring many changes to how the F1 cars work. Lesser weight means lesser downforce and that will lead to cars becoming harder to control. Insider Junaid tweeted on X, stating, “From 2026, Formula 1 cars are finally set to become lighter. Although there are no exact figures yet because the concept is only due to be presented in the coming days, it is clear that the cars are set to lose some weight.”

According to motorsport-total.com, James Vowles has doubts that the teams will be able to reach the new weight limit. His team is already struggling to get close to the limit and Apline has been struggling to do so since the start of this season. Vowles mentioned that “2026 has very interesting rules at the moment.” He spoke from experience that weight balance in a car is crucial and removing a component like the MGU-H will change how the single-seater feels.

Sharing his thoughts on the upcoming regulations, James Vowles said, “It rewards weight in a way that no other championship does, simply because the number is so low. I don’t think anyone will achieve that.” The regulation’s change will pose a new challenge for teams as they figure out how to minimize the weight of their cars while building enough downforce to keep the cars from taking off. Changing the weight of the cars will also impact how drivers understand the car as it would feel like getting into a new machine altogether.

As we wait for the specifications on the weight of the cars to be announced, let’s look at all the known changes that will be implemented in 2026.

F1’s 2026 regulation changes explained

Now we already know that the regulations will require manufacturers to remove the MGU-H system from the power unit. However, to compensate for the loss of the MGU-H, the MGU-K’s power is increased to 350kW (~469bhp). The aim is to balance the internal combustion engine and electrical power, making the power split closer to 50/50, and slowly transition to zero-carbon releases from the F1 cars.

There will also be a new Manual Override function that will give drivers access to extra battery power at high speeds, pushing their top speeds to touch 335km/h. Many of the details are still being finalized such as its duration and the number of uses per race and that is said to be revealed by the FIA shortly.

Along with these changes, the FIA simulations suggest that the 2026 cars will have very low drag and high efficiency, which might make overtaking more difficult. Therefore, additional aids like the manual override are necessary. The manual override will work alongside the Drag Reduction System (DRS) and active aerodynamics to enhance overtaking capabilities, as these systems alone may not be sufficient.

Do you agree with James Vowles about weight reduction not being possible? Let us know your thoughts.