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 laws aimed toward enhancing the spectacle on the monitor via the implementation of an “override” system. Primarily, a BoP. The purpose is to create a efficiency balancing system (Stability of Efficiency or BoP) to create a man-made efficiency hole between the vehicles, thus facilitating overtaking and preserving competitors alive.
It goes with out saying, nonetheless, that this resolution 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 worth to pay is clearly a contest distorted in its essence.
The center of the change might be a single ECU managed by the FIA, which is able to management the ability and gas consumption of each the thermal and electrical engines of every automobile. The ECU will set a most energy restrict: 400 kW for the thermal engine and 350 kW for the electrical one. By the override command, the system will be capable to briefly scale back the ability of the main automobile, permitting the chasing driver to keep up excessive energy ranges for prolonged durations, thus creating velocity variations particularly designed for overtakes.
The adoption of the BoP in System 1, disguised as a instrument to favor overtakes, represents a historic change, probably second solely to the whole electrification that additionally threatened to reach within the highest class of world motorsport (and whose danger is just not but fully dominated out). This technique, the truth is, establishes an ordinary efficiency restrict, flattening the variations between groups and steering the competitors towards an more and more managed and uniform administration of the vehicles. For those who favor, you possibly can simply label it as a real manipulation of technical values.
This maneuver may also scale back engineering creativity and the individuality (already very restricted) of the vehicles, limiting the area for technical innovation in favor of a System 1 pushed by electronics and computing.
Allow us to do not forget that, as established in earlier months, from 2026, there might be an actual revolution (already decided) relating to the ability items. The brand new laws, additionally specializing in sustainability, will introduce substantial adjustments in power 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 endure an influence discount, dropping from 550 kW to 400 kW, whereas gas consumption might be restricted by even stricter laws. Moreover, the turbocharging system might be diminished, with a turbo strain restrict set at 4.8 bar.
The brand new energy items may also should adapt to lively aerodynamics (the third main novelty of the 2026 laws), which is able to permit real-time changes to the automobile’s aerodynamic setup to optimize traction and power effectivity, however this may also be managed via centralized software program that may 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 could possibly be matched with the technical designs of the vehicles in a clear and interesting battle on the monitor are nearly extinct. Actually, all this additionally is available in response to the necessity to scale back environmental affect, an more and more central theme in motorsport. Nonetheless, it’s official to ask whether or not manipulating the values on the monitor is really important for the acknowledged sustainability purpose, or whether or not it’s extra of a advertising and marketing technique to keep up public curiosity.
System 1 (which now solely carries the identify of the game we bear in mind) is more and more turning 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 arrival of energy items in 2014) marks the definitive farewell to the game we as soon as knew.
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