1 F2026 cars will not be at minimum weight, says Horner: "It's a number that came out of nowhere"

The 2026 regulations will come into force in less than seven months, yet they are still generating a lot of buzz among the teams. All are already well advanced in developing their future. car, the first of a new era in Formula 1 with technical upheavals in the chassis, engine and aerodynamics. One of the main concerns of manufacturers is the minimum weight. Through the 2026 regulations, the FIA ​​has attempted to reduce the size and weight of single-seaters: from 800 kg in 2025, the mandatory minimum weight will increase to 724 kg next year, to which will be added the nominal weight of the tires which will be defined by Pirelli.

However, several voices are raised on this limit, which many consider too low. At a press conference on Friday in MiamiChristian Horner has expressed his skepticism and believes that no team will be able to reach the minimum weight with the new technical regulations in 2026. "A number was pulled out of thin air to determine the [minimum] weight of the single-seaters. We have engines that will be significantly heavier and the car weight has to be lower. So it will be a huge challenge for every team to achieve [the minimum weight].", explained the Team Principal of Red Bull.

Horner and Wolff disagree

Indeed, with a larger share of electric energy to power the 1 F2026 cars, the power units will be affected, particularly with a larger battery. For the British manager, other factors could increase the weight of future single-seaters, which will inevitably lead to increased costs to save weight. "Weight gain costs a colossal amount of money. Last week there was talk of introducing steel runners, which might justify adding five kilos to the minimum weight, Christian Horner stressedIt's the same for everyone. There will be choices to be made by the teams to reach the minimum weight, because weight represents a gain in lap time: 10 kilos represents about three tenths. But it will be very difficult for all the teams to reach the minimum weight.

Unsurprisingly, Christian Horner found a detractor in the person of Toto wolff : the two men, often at odds, particularly on the 2026 regulations, do not have the same point of view. According to the team director Mercedes, this minimum weight set at 724 kg represents a real challenge, but which is not impossible to achieve. “As Christian said, you have to make choices as a team: how much lap time do you allocate to weight and ballast? Where do you want to save? You can compromise other parts if you want to reduce your weight, or the other way around. It’s a real challenge, said the Austrian leaderThe reason we do this is to make cars more agile. Is that important? I think so. You have to start somewhere. That first step is difficult, but it's the same for everyone.

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