The FIA ​​approves a new F1 regulations structure

While the 2025 season just ended three days ago with the first world title of Lando NorrisThe FIA ​​logically continues to look ahead to 2026, when new technical regulations will be introduced, ending the cycle of Formula 1 ground effect, a cycle that began in 2022.

While Formula 1 regulations have only grown larger year after year, forcing the FIA ​​to admit, at the end of the 2021 season, that a complete or at least partial rewrite would be necessary, a first step towards clarification seems to have been taken, with the creation of a new section of regulations.

Indeed, in addition to the sporting, technical, financial (for teams and engine manufacturers), and operational regulations, "general regulatory provisions" now appear at the beginning of the various regulatory sections. The FIA's aim is to include as many rules as possible that apply to several other sections, in order to avoid contradictions and duplication. The goal is therefore to simplify the reading of the various regulations by highlighting general rules, which are then refined and clarified in the specific regulations that apply to them.

The FIA ​​took the opportunity to slightly modify the sporting and technical regulations for the upcoming season, with some operational changes for the teams. Firstly, during a sprint qualifying session, if one of the three sections is declared "wet," this no longer negates the requirement to use medium tires in SQ1 and SQ2, and soft tires in SQ3. In practical terms, this means that if the track is wet at the start of SQ1, drivers can obviously use intermediate or wet tires, but if the track dries sufficiently, they will have to switch to medium tires when they want to switch to slicks. Previously, a team could use only soft tires in all three sections if they wished, as long as the track was declared "wet" at some point during the session.

As the new regulations in force are accompanied by a new technical situation, the number of operational staff on the circuits will now be allowed, on a temporary basis, to increase to 60 people, in order to ensure the best possible operation of the new Formula 1 cars.

Three winter testing sessions will be held in 2026, the first behind closed doors followed by two three-day sessions in Bahrain. The FIA ​​confirmed on Wednesday that 2027 will mark a return to a single three-day testing session.

During a Sprint weekend, if Free Practice 1 is red-flagged, race control now has the authority to extend the session to ensure teams have sufficient track time. This could prove particularly useful at Zandvoort, where the sprint format will be introduced for the first time. The Dutch circuit has a history of particularly eventful FP1 sessions…

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