Off-Season Changes That Could Shape the Upcoming F1 Season

Another year of F1 is ahead, with the first race day scheduled for the 8th of March in Melbourne, Australia. The new year of racing is expected to be one of the most interesting in recent times, with no clear early favourites for the title and a range of changes that could impact the sport. Coming off the back of the 2024/25 F1 season, expectations for the next year of racing are incredibly high. The previous F1 season was one of the most competitive in recent years, coming down to the last race, with three drivers in contention for the title. For the upcoming F1 season, the formidable McLaren pairing will hope to replicate their success, and Max will attempt to reclaim his crown. These elements, combined with Lewis Hamilton’s sophomore year at Ferrari, Russell’s added motivation, and Leclerc’s drastic improvements, shape up for an upcoming spectacle.

New Regulations for the 2026 Season

Every year in the F1 off-season, some changes can tweak the upcoming seasons. Although there are changes every year, the 2026 season marks the year new major regulations are implemented, significantly changing the playing field. To us fans, it is hard to predict who the leaders will be in the upcoming season, given the completely different car formats. The FIA has made some revolutionary changes for the upcoming season, aiming to create a more action-packed race calendar by using smaller cars to create more overtaking space. To achieve this, the cars will be narrower and lighter, with shorter wheelbases, enabling greater agility through corners.

In the coming year, the cars’ wings will be redefined, with both the front and rear wings simplified. The front wing will be narrower than in previous years, suiting drivers who specialise in operating through traffic, resulting in an overall more nimble and responsive car. The rear wing may have featured one of the most notable changes in the off-season, saying goodbye to the traditional DRS mechanism and welcoming the Active Aero. This change allows cars to change the angle of the wings, with the flaps staying shut in the corners, and on designated straights, drivers have a button to activate low-drag mode. When activated, the flaps open and the wings flatten, boosting the car’s top speed by reducing drag. Unlike DRS, which can only be activated if a driver is less than a second behind the driver ahead at the point of a detection zone, Active Aero can be applied on any lap.

The FIA has announced the new ‘Overtake Mode’, which, similar to DRS in previous years, can be activated when a driver is within one second of the car in front. This change has the potential to drastically change the F1 standings, whilst also impacting online betting markets. When deployed, the driver will be granted +0.5 MJ of additional electrical power to make a move on the driver ahead.

The power unit has undergone a notable change in the off-season, with the FIA opting for a more electric-based split. The Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) as we know it has changed, being cut, with the electric motor taking on a more important role to account for it. In the 2026 F1 season, there will be a roughly 50/50 split between petrol and electric power for the cars, making them more renewable and sustainable.

Notable Driver Changes

Isack Hadjar to Red Bull

It has been confirmed that Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season. In his sophomore year in F1, the French racing driver will join Max Verstappen, attempting to do what many have failed to achieve: secure the second seat at Red Bull. In the 2025 F1 season, Hadjar put up a respectable year for the partner team, Racing Bulls. Hadjar put up 51 points for Racing Bulls in his debut season, outscoring his teammate Liam Lawson by 13 points. It was time for a change at Red Bull for the second seat on the roster, with Yuki Tsunoda finishing 17th out of the grid, with a points total of 33. The change provides something unique, with a drive full of confidence and potential, that could complement Max Verstappen well.

Sergio Perez to Cadillac

After a year without a spot on the F1 roster in 2025, Sergio Perez returns to racing, signing with the newly formed Cadillac F1 team for their debut season. After a difficult 2024 season with Red Bull, he found himself without a roster spot for the first time since his F1 debut in 2011. A year away from the sport for Checo may refuel a fire inside him, with his beginnings with Cadillac providing a solid foundation for his return. Sergio Perez will link up with F1 veteran Valtteri Bottas, with the pair hoping to use their experience to get some important race results in 2026.