Formula 1 is contemplating reducing wheel and tyre dimensions as a strategy to counteract the escalating weight of the cars, aiming for changes by 2026.
The added weight from the electrical components for the 2026 vehicles threatens to push beyond the current 798kg minimum weight. In response, the FIA has recently voiced its intent to trim a substantial 50kg off this weight.
“A report from Auto Motor und Sport suggests that F1 technical director Pat Symonds views this target as highly ambitious but believes an initial decrease of around 20 kilograms is plausible,” it stated.
Another radical consideration for F1 is to completely eliminate the minimum car weight requirement.
Journalist Michael Schmidt commented: “Competition would get the weight down the fastest and there are sympathisers for this idea at both the FIA and Formula 1.
“The strict stress tests on one hand and the budget cap on the other would prevent safety-relevant excesses and an explosion in costs,” he added.
Several other propositions are under consideration for the 2026 rules to assist in weight reduction.
“The transmission should only have six gears instead of eight,” Schmidt said. “The cars and tyres are also to get smaller.”
Speculations suggest F1 might transition from the present bulky 18-inch tyres to more compact 16-inch variants.
Regarding vehicle dimensions, Schmidt detailed: “The width is proposed to reduce from 200 to 190 centimetres, and the wheelbase from the existing 360 to 340cm.
“Symonds even thinks 330cm is possible, but he is encountering resistance from some of the teams.”
