The FIA has released the full list of regulations for F1 in 2026, and while the cars may look promising in practice, several drivers have already expressed initial skepticism about how these rules will turn out to be a reality.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso is one of those drivers. Speaking to the media ahead of the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, Alonso expressed skepticism about rumors of a 30kg weight reduction, saying it was an “impossible goal.”
Fernando Alonso: “Power units add weight”
Chief among the many improvements and upgrades planned for 2026 is an increase in power. Power will be split evenly between the electric battery and the internal combustion engine, resulting in a threefold increase in power compared to the current power unit.
The FIA’s latest announcement also revealed that the cars’ wheelbase and width will be shortened to improve overtaking maneuvers, reducing downforce by 30 percent and drag by 55 percent.
However, the FIA has also suggested that ideally the new car should be 30kg lighter than the current car.
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“I think it’s probably impossible to reach 30 kilometres,” Alonso told the media ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.
“If the power unit is 50% electric and you need a battery to support it, the car will only gain 20-30kg because of the power unit, and we want to lose 30kg. [kg] “We need to shave 60 kilos off the current car, which is the same at the moment and probably an impossible target for the team.”
Alonso acknowledged that the “smart people” designing these new cars would likely be able to come up with their own solutions to these engineering challenges, but acknowledged that it would be a tough task.
Williams’ Alex Albon also spoke to the media about his desire for a “simpler engine”.
Current automotive trends are seeing an increased use of hybridisation over fully electric drive, and F1 will naturally need to follow the same path if it is to remain at the cutting edge of technology.
But while hybrid powertrains offer increased efficiency and power, they also come with a weight drawback: Batteries are inherently heavy, and engineers haven’t found an easy way to make them lighter so far. New powertrains could be a great opportunity for innovation in F1, but it won’t be easy.
Read next: Lewis Hamilton claims F1’s 2026 regulations don’t make cars “look a lot slower” due to insufficient weight savings
