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F1 has introduced the official terminology that will be used to reference the intricate details of its new 2026 rulebook.

The championship is embarking on what is considered the largest regulation change in its long history for the 2026 campaign, featuring fresh chassis and power unit regulations and the required adoption of 100% sustainable fuels.

The revised engines, which maintain the hybrid V6 layout, boast a substantially higher electrical capacity, driving key advancements in the cars' aerodynamics.

During grand prix events, competitors will tactically deploy electrical energy – including during flying laps – to secure the best result.

Broad surveys were carried out with a mix of viewers, including dedicated enthusiasts and casual observers, to understand which terms would improve understanding of the central aspects of the new regulations.

The primary aim was to present a set of intricate new areas of the competition as accessible as possible for the widest audience.

Consequently, previous placeholder terms for specific components – such as "x-mode and z-mode" for the adjustable aero – have been discarded in favour of descriptive names that directly explain the actual function of the system.

Exploring the New Tech

The FIA states that drivers will have greater control to make decisions regarding battery management, energy recovery, and saving energy.

The upcoming changes mandate a range of settings that will be clearly indicated on television graphics to aid the viewers' comprehension of the race battle.

• Attack Mode: This replaces the existing Drag Reduction System. It provides a surge of additional ERS power deployable when a driver is close behind the car ahead to assist with an pass.
• Boost Mode: This is a on-demand energy deployment from the ERS that can be used in overtaking or defending. It grants the driver maximum power at the push of a button.

Both of these crucial modes will have to be used with calculation, as the total energy is strictly limited.

• Active Aerodynamics: Both the nose and rear wings adjust their angles – spreading on the long straight sections for reduced drag and increased velocity, and angling down in the turns for peak grip.
• Energy Harvesting: Cars can replenish their battery with regenerative braking, or during coasting at the end of straights or in sections where only limited engine output is required.

What's Changing on the Cars?

The vehicles for the new era will be reduced in size and weight relative to current models, with a car length shortened by 200mm to 3,400mm, overall width reduced by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the minimum weight reduced by 30kg.

Overall downforce is projected to decrease by approximately fifteen to thirty percent, although constructors will inevitably claw this back as they develop their cars.

Aerodynamic drag has been cut by 40%. The vehicles will feature adjustable aero systems – both wings will move on the straights to cut resistance and boost top speed and return into place for optimal grip in corners.

Tyres will keep 18-inch rims, but the tyres themselves will be narrower, by a quarter-centimetre on the front and 30 millimetres on the rear axle.

What's Changing in the Engines?

The revised hybrid units will have an near-equal balance in energy output by the internal combustion engine and the ERS, up from about 20% battery contribution under present rules.

The energy recovery system is made less complex through the elimination of the complex turbo energy recovery device, the complicated and costly device that generated electricity from the exhaust turbo.

Cars will be required to run on carbon-neutral fuel, produced using organic sources or lab-created processes.