Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes there is little chance that the new technical regulations for 2026 will lead to smaller F1 cars.
F1 cars have become significantly larger and heavier in recent years and, according to the drivers, this has a negative effect on overtaking options. The current generation of cars have improved aerodynamically through larger wings and floors, but this comes at a price in the form of so-called ‘dirty air’ and higher tire wear.
In eight years, F1 cars have become no less than eleven percent wider and we saw last weekend in Monaco that this causes problems on certain circuits. The legendary race in the principality is now more like a parade than a race, simply due to the fact that it is almost impossible to ride side by side.
We can look forward to new technical regulations in 2026, but if we can believe Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, smaller F1 cars are not on the plan. He also believes that it is more up to the circuits to adapt rather than the other way around.
“Either we have to make the cars significantly smaller for 2026, which is not really in the plans, or to have a really entertaining race here we have to at least look at the possibility of being able to open some zones that would at least have a could create a catch-up opportunity and what would it cost to achieve that?”
“I think that’s something that Formula 1 is very aware of, and I’m sure Monaco is too. But to protect the next 70 years here, I think there’s clearly going to be some evolution needed.”
Formula 1 has already announced that it wants to maintain the current tire size, which makes it unlikely that the cars will become smaller from 2026.
Since it’s #MonacoGP and everyone is talking about the size of modern F1 cars, here is a size comparison through the years and how much F1 cars grew since the 50’s. I made this video two years ago but it still works. pic.twitter.com/mEnNosg4Vi
— Cam De Bastiani (@camdebastiani) May 27, 2023
The size of current F1 cars are crazy. They need to shrink asap
RB1 x RB20 pic.twitter.com/E4NOcsLvza
— Enzo (@Aperta) February 27, 2024
An interesting pic showing the difference in size of F1 cars. The 2024 cars ate even bigger. At what point are they too big? #F1 pic.twitter.com/8DOLaZ6mXJ
— Prancing Horse (@CavallinoRampa2) May 28, 2024