The wheel base is reduced by 5.5%, and the width is reduced by 5%. I couldn’t find info on the actual maximum length changes, but according to these two sources:
Modern cars can be up to 5.6m length. Apparently this is not going to change much, so I wouldn’t put weight into words “shorter” and “thinner”. Yes, new cars are shorter and thinner. But is 5% enough?
Probably not enough, but a step in the right direction. I imagine this is the best they could do that also fit with all their plans for the new engines.
The cars are sightly shorter and thinner
The wheel base is reduced by 5.5%, and the width is reduced by 5%. I couldn’t find info on the actual maximum length changes, but according to these two sources:
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/why-formula-1-cars-have-grown-so-big/
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/f1s-smaller-nimbler-raceable-2026-rules-announced-full-explainer/
Modern cars can be up to 5.6m length. Apparently this is not going to change much, so I wouldn’t put weight into words “shorter” and “thinner”. Yes, new cars are shorter and thinner. But is 5% enough?
I hope other measures will be more fruitful.
Probably not enough, but a step in the right direction. I imagine this is the best they could do that also fit with all their plans for the new engines.