With the 2025 season now in the books — one that saw Lando Norris triumph over Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri — Formula 1 is set to move on from the ground-effect era and shift its full focus to one of the most sweeping regulatory overhauls in recent years.

New cars will be radically different, moving away from the Venturi tunnel concept that has defined the past four years and placing the power units firmly back at the centre, while active aerodynamics make a return to compensate for the removal of DRS.

Power units will undergo a fundamental transformation, with an even 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power. The hybrid system will be simplified through the removal of the MGU-H, while the MGU-K will deliver a major boost in output, increasing from 120kW to 350kW to enhance overtaking potential and straight-line performance.

At the same time, the cars will run on advanced sustainable fuels, designed to deliver these gains without any compromise in performance.

Changes will extend well beyond the power unit, reshaping both chassis and aerodynamics. The cars will be smaller and lighter, with a 200mm shorter wheelbase, reduced width, a narrower floor and a minimum weight cut by 30kg, all aimed at improving agility and responsiveness.

Overall downforce will be significantly reduced following the removal of ground-effect floor tunnels, while drag is set to drop by around 40%.

Active aerodynamics will also make a return, with movable front and rear wings replacing DRS and allowing drivers to switch between high- and low-downforce configurations depending on the situation. The 18-inch wheels will be retained, but narrower front and rear tyres will further reduce drag and weight.

Here’s a gallery of images showing roughly what the 2026 cars will look like.