Sadly, it’s all true, and we’ve reached this level: System 1 is making ready for a radical change beginning in 2026, with the introduction of recent rules geared toward enhancing the spectacle on the observe by means of the implementation of an “override” system. Primarily, a BoP. The aim is to create a efficiency balancing system (Stability of Efficiency or BoP) to create a synthetic efficiency hole between the automobiles, thus facilitating overtaking and retaining competitors alive.
It goes with out saying, nevertheless, that this determination has already sparked differing opinions amongst trade consultants and followers. The goal is to align System 1 with new sustainability and leisure wants, however the value to pay is clearly a contest distorted in its essence.
The guts of the change shall be a single ECU managed by the FIA, which is able to management the facility and gas consumption of each the thermal and electrical engines of every automotive. The ECU will set a most energy restrict: 400 kW for the thermal engine and 350 kW for the electrical one. By way of the override command, the system will be capable of quickly scale back the facility of the main automobile, permitting the chasing driver to take care of excessive energy ranges for prolonged durations, thus creating pace variations particularly designed for overtakes.
The adoption of the BoP in System 1, disguised as a software to favor overtakes, represents a historic change, doubtlessly second solely to the whole electrification that additionally threatened to reach within the highest class of world motorsport (and whose threat just isn’t but fully dominated out). This technique, in reality, establishes a normal efficiency restrict, flattening the variations between groups and steering the competitors towards an more and more managed and uniform administration of the automobiles. In the event you desire, you may simply label it as a real manipulation of technical values.
This maneuver can even scale back engineering creativity and the distinctiveness (already very restricted) of the automobiles, limiting the area for technical innovation in favor of a System 1 pushed by electronics and computing.
Allow us to keep in mind that, as established in earlier months, from 2026, there shall be an actual revolution (already decided) concerning the facility models. The brand new rules, additionally specializing in sustainability, will introduce substantial adjustments in vitality administration and gas utilization. The electrical engine energy will enhance to 350 kW, with a battery regeneration capability rising from 2 to 9 MJ per lap.
On the identical time, the thermal engine will bear an influence discount, dropping from 550 kW to 400 kW, whereas gas consumption shall be restricted by even stricter rules. Moreover, the turbocharging system shall be lowered, with a turbo strain restrict set at 4.8 bar.
The brand new energy models can even must adapt to lively aerodynamics (the third main novelty of the 2026 rules), which is able to permit real-time changes to the automotive’s aerodynamic setup to optimize traction and vitality effectivity, however this can even be managed by means of centralized software program that can restrict the design freedom of the groups.
The conclusions and feedback on these selections may appear superfluous. For many who love motorsport, all of that is bordering on miserable. The times when on-track battles have been genuine and the values of the drivers might be matched with the technical designs of the automobiles in a clear and interesting struggle on the observe are nearly extinct. Actually, all this additionally is available in response to the necessity to scale back environmental impression, an more and more central theme in motorsport. Nevertheless, it’s legit to ask whether or not manipulating the values on the observe is really important for the said sustainability aim, or whether or not it’s extra of a advertising technique to take care of public curiosity.
System 1 (which now solely carries the identify of the game we bear in mind) is more and more changing into a problem of software program and digital administration. And maybe this step (which comes after the architectural restrictions of engines in 1995, the ban on in-season testing in 2009, the introduction of DRS in 2012, and the appearance of energy models in 2014) marks the definitive farewell to the game we as soon as knew.
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